Heavy Snow Coming To MA: Winter Weather, Wind Advisories

WORCESTER, MA — What forecasters are describing as a "long-duration" winter storm will move into New England starting Thursday night, bringing snow, rain and wind into the weekend.

The highest snow totals will be seen in the northwest corner of the state and along the Vermont and New Hampshire borders as far east as Worcester County. The Worcester and Marlborough areas could see 1 inch or less, and no snow is expected generally east of I-495, according to forecasts.

But eastern and central Massachusetts will still be covered by several weather warnings.

A winter weather advisory will go into effect at 7 p.m. Thursday for a wide area north and west of Worcester, including communities like Fitchburg and Orange.

"Wet snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches. Along the Massachusetts and New Hampshire border totals may be as high as 3 to 6 inches. Accumulations confined to 1,000 feet or higher. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph," the advisory said.

There's also a wind advisory in effect for the entire Massachusetts coast from Buzzards Bay to Boston to Salisbury starting Friday morning and lasting into late Friday night. Expect gusts up to 50 mph, with steady winds up to 30 mph.

Eastern Massachusetts will be spared a big snow event due to a low pressure system hanging off the coast. That will move north up the Atlantic coast, leaving cold, dry and sunny days in its wake, according to the National Weather Service.

This week's storm will nearly fall on the 30-year anniversary of the great 1992 nor'easter, which dropped some 20 inches of snow in eastern Massachusetts, and about 4 feet in the Berkshires.