fb-pixelThese maps show when and where the two nor’easters will hit this week - The Boston Globe Skip to main content

These maps show when and where the two nor’easters will hit this week

You might want to get your rain galoshes at the ready.

Two nor’easters are barreling toward Massachusetts this week — one that arrives Monday night into Tuesday and another on Thursday night — and parts of the state might even see some snow.

The first storm will start hammering the region Monday night into Tuesday with a round of steady rainfall and gusty winds, according to the National Weather Service. There might be a brief period of snow towards the Berkshires, before the precipitation changes over to rain Tuesday.

Expect to see the morning commute impacted: Heavy rainfall will affect all of southern New England — especially the eastern part — and rain will begin between 3 and 7 a.m. on Tuesday, with the heaviest rainfall between 7 a.m. and noon.

Advertisement



A forecast model posted by the weather service on Sunday evening showed the potential timing of rain, snow, and sleet hitting the region.

Forecasters wrote on Twitter that they expect most precipitation to end across southern New England between 3 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and between 4 and 5 p.m. in Boston.

Meanwhile, strong winds that could cause power outages are expected to hit southeast New England and the Cape and Islands Tuesday morning, peaking in the afternoon and diminishing towards the evening. Westerly winds could also quickly increase Tuesday night, meaning there could be strong, potentially damaging winds overnight into Wednesday, the weather service said.

There is also about a one-third chance that some areas in northern and western Massachusetts will see a small dusting of snow from late Monday night into early Tuesday morning. The weather service also warned that untreated bridges, overpasses, and secondary roads could prove dangerous.

Thankfully, the chance for an inch or more of the cold white stuff is pretty low.

Advertisement



The second nor’easter is slated to arrive Thursday evening, and could bring some snow. The National Weather Service has not posted much about this storm — forecasters wrote on Twitter that they are “just trying to focus on one storm at a time” — but they did note the storm could hit overnight Thursday, followed by colder and drier weather next weekend.

“Colder air should be in place to start, raising the possibility for some wintry precipitation for a time,” forecaster wrote in an area forecast discussion on Sunday. “With no means of trapping this colder air, expecting a transition to rain Friday. Way too early to pin down accumulations to specific numbers.”

Meteorologist Dave Epstein wrote in a BostonGlobe.com forecast that he doesn’t believe the second nor’easter will be a big snowstorm, but also noted that it’s a bit too early to tell with certainty.

“Eventually, enough mild air will move in to change any wintry precipitation to rain before it all comes to an end later Friday,” Epstein wrote.

Tropical Tidbits via Dave Epstein