So how hearty are we? We’re about to find out.
The storm heading our way Sunday comes just a week after the region endured its worst winter blast in years, and as communities continue their recovery through bone-chilling cold, they’re bracing for more inclement weather.
Nothing like last weekend, thankfully. But poorly timed just the same.
“The 8 to 12 inches that fell on the Cape last Sunday may see another 6 inches pile on top of the snow pack” beginning Sunday morning “and lasting through much of the day,” said Globe meteorologist Ken Mahan.
Mahan said areas along the South Shore and South Coast that received as much as two feet of snow last weekend could get another three to six inches Sunday.
Boston and its suburbs are expected to be largely spared this time around, according to the National Weather Service, which said in a Friday advisory that forecasters expect lighter “accumulating snow with lesser overall impact further north and west into the Boston-Providence corridor Sunday.”
In Chatham, officials with the town’s Department of Public Works met Friday to discuss preparations for the upcoming storm, which could cause flooding significant enough to force evacuations, director Robert Faley said.
“We are kind of the spit on the elbow of Cape Cod, so we’re out there where we are vulnerable to some of these events,” he said.
Faley said officials will closely monitor the tides, wind speed, and wind direction, which he said makes flood-prone areas more vulnerable to erosion.
Normally, Chatham’s coastline is vulnerable to winds from the south, Faley said.
“But if it’s a wrap-around [wind], from a nor’easter, and the winds come out of the northeast, then it’s a whole different set of vulnerable areas that we’re monitoring,” he said.
Overall, town officials and residents are fatigued heading into a second round of severe weather, he said.
Public works staff are still clearing snow from sidewalks and parking lots, he said. At the same time, they’ll need to take a break in order to be “prepared and well-rested” ahead of Sunday’s storm, he said.
“People are ready for spring to show its face,” Faley said.
On Nantucket, officials are bracing for more drifts from wind-swept snow at a time when the island’s having trouble fully replenishing its road salt supply, said Andrew Patnode, the public works director.
“The wind will whip through and blow snow off of [open] areas and across our roads,” he said.
Normally, the town tries to keep its main salt barn filled to the top. But with salt in high demand these days, the most recent delivery came not by barge but by truck.
“We’re running a little low, so we wanted to replenish,” he said. “But we didn’t get a full shipment.”
Finding areas to dump cleared snow is also becoming a problem, he said. he said. Officials have begun leaving it in beach parking lots, Patnode said.
“Since we just got eight to 10 inches this past Sunday, it’s obviously becoming pretty difficult for us to find room for this snow, especially on our historic narrow downtown streets,” he said.
Salt shortages have also affected Falmouth.
The town’s main salt barn was two-thirds empty Friday, although it had just received three to four truckloads earlier in the day, James Kempton, the deputy director of Falmouth’s department of public works.
But Falmouth may still share some of its supply with neighboring towns that are facing steeper shortages, Kempton said. He was optimistic Falmouth will have enough salt for this weekend and said he’s grateful it’s only expected to snow about two to five inches on his community.
Earlier this week, some on Cape Cod were worried the storm could drop another foot, he said.
“We’re in good shape for the next one, we are thankful it’s not going to be another foot of snow though,” he said.
He said crews worked long hours on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday clearing snow from last week’s storm.
“The town of Falmouth is thankful that we have a lot of dedicated employees,” Kempton said.
In Maynard, officials said ongoing snow removal operations from the last storm could be complicated by this weekend’s successor.
The town’s DPW had scheduled another snow removal operation on Sunday night, but only under clear skies.
The “operation is weather dependent due to the potential of another predicted storm that may take place on Sunday night,” town officials said Thursday.
Officials assured residents that the town understands their frustration.
“We understand storm events like this can be stressful and challenging to our residents’ daily life,” the statement said. “We will continue to utilize all of our resources and work hard to improve the conditions of the community for vehicle and pedestrian use.”
The weather pattern is also disrupting the repair schedule on the MBTA’s Red Line, with officials saying Wednesday they were cancelling planned repair work on the Red Line this weekend due to the punishing weather.
“Riders are reminded that this weekend’s (January 31 - February 1) scheduled Red Line service suspension between Broadway and North Quincy on the Braintree Branch and Broadway and Ashmont on the Ashmont Branch has been canceled due to the lingering impacts of the recent winter storm and the potential weather for the weekend,” the MBTA said. “Regularly scheduled Red Line service will operate this weekend.”
In Marshfield, DPW crews worked for 51 hours straight this week to repair a water main break, and on Tuesday night they were “sent home for some well-deserved rest,” the town’s public works superintendent, Ken Ryan, said in a statement posted to Facebook.
Crews along the South Shore and Cape Cod can expect more pressing work on Sunday, forecasters said.
“Greatest overall impacts from accumulating snow and gusty winds are across South Shore, Cape Cod and the Islands Sunday and Sunday night," the National Weather Service said Friday in an advisory.
On the Cape in Sandwich, officials warned Thursday that Sunday’s storm could bring flooding.
“There is potential for moderate flooding around high tides Sunday into Monday,” officials said. “Water could be 1-3 feet deep.”
Officials urged residents to keep “safe near the water, secure loose items, and keep an eye on updates from the National Weather Service.”
In Fall River, officials took to social media this week in hopes of hiring more plow drivers, as well as to inform residents that a parking ban will remain in place with more snow on the way.
“The parking ban remains in effect as we continue the clearing and hauling of snow,” officials said. “We ask for your patience and cooperation as we continue to clean up from one major storm while facing the possibility of another weekend storm on the way.”
The storm could also threaten ferry travel to and from Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, according to the Steamship Authority.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Claire Thornton can be reached at claire.thornton@globe.com. Follow Claire on X @claire_thornto.