Significant snow likely late Sunday for Southern New England

A significant, plowable snowfall is increasingly likely across much of Southern New England away from the immediate south coast from Sunday evening into Sunday night, which is why it’s a Storm Team 10 Weather Alert.

Light rain ends Saturday evening, with a brief period of drier weather expected from Saturday night into early Sunday morning. There could even be a few sunny breaks Sunday morning before clouds fill back in.

As an area of low pressure approaches the region and gains strength late Sunday, precipitation will begin between 3 to 5 p.m. in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. It may begin as a mix of rain and snow with temperatures above freezing at the onset of the storm, but temperatures quickly drop below freezing after sunset on Sunday, allowing for a change to all snow away from the immediate south coast.

Forecast model guidance has come into better agreement on a colder, snowier outcome with this storm Sunday evening into Sunday night. As a result, the snowfall total forecast has increased for much of Southern New England, excluding the Cape and Islands where most of the precipitation likely falls as rain.

Providence County is now in a Winter Storm Watch for 4 to 8 inches of snow. Northern portions of Bristol County Massachusetts, including Mansfield, Attleboro, Norton and Easton also stand a good chance to receive 4 to 8 inches. Along and south of a line extending from Westerly to Providence to Taunton, expect snowfall totals to be lower in the 2 to 4 inch range due to a longer period of mixed precipitation. The Cape and Islands will likely only see a coating to 2 inches.

Across Boston’s metro west into central Massachusetts and the Worcester area along and north of the Mass Pike, snowfall totals could exceed 8 inches due to colder temperatures causing a “fluff factor”, which will increase snowfall totals in this region.

As the storm pulls away, an arctic airmass will overspread Southern New England.

Highs on Monday reach the low 20s, with highs Tuesday and Wednesday only in the teens. Factoring in the wind, it will feel like it’s below zero for a wind chill factor. Plan to keep the pets indoors and bundle up the kids!