Nor’easter could cause blackouts and blackouts this weekend – NBC Boston

On the eve of a major nor’easter, creeping doubts may be your worst enemy. Will the storm “behave” as expected? Will the timing change? And will cold air materialize for snow?

The wheels can come off quite quickly and it is important to realize that weather patterns simulate the atmosphere – they do not take into account all the nuances. Forecasts can be tinkered with and massaged from the first flakes to the last. And anyone who says they’ve covered all the bases is literally blowing snow.

So we are boldly moving forward with our best game plan for nor’easter late tonight and tomorrow.

We are confident that everyone starts with the rain. Today’s highs peak in the low 50s and the air near the ground is semi-soft (for this year). In the middle atmosphere, however, the cold is heading towards our storm. This will give the “injection” it needs to build up quickly and turn rain into snow later tomorrow.

This turn will begin in the high elevations of western New England in the late morning, and then slowly – or more sharply depending on how fast the storm is deepening – will move towards the coast. The full turn to snow at the water’s edge may not be completed until midnight Saturday evening (Sunday). At this point, many of us will have the lion’s share of the buildup on the pitch.

Backing up, the tilt will not be pretty. Snow rates will increase throughout Saturday afternoon and evening, and it is possible that we may see white with the wind. The journey will become difficult and the wet snow will stick to everything. Power outages are possible – most likely where snow totals are highest – until Saturday evening.

Speaking of wind, gusts could exceed 45 to 50 mph along the coast. As the storm intensifies through Sunday morning, the strong winds will focus on the northern and southern shores towards the Cape and the Islands. The remainder of Sunday remains blustery as the storm recedes into the Gulf of Maine.

The snowfall is a challenge and we have done our best to highlight the important points. The lines can change and the amounts can be changed slightly, but the main thing is that the plows will be out and the situation will become difficult tomorrow. The cold in the days following the storm promises to keep the ground white in many places.

Updates throughout the day and during the storm. Have a safe weekend.