Snow On the Way; Potential for Up to 15 Inches

The National Weather Service reports that there is a "chance of snow" every day from Wednesday, Feb. 5, through Friday, Feb. 7 in the area.

According to Jim Arnold, weather specialist with the Shrewsbury Management Agency, the brunt of the storm would likely hit the area on Thursday and Friday.

"Right now I see little chance of any freezing rain, sleet or ice with this storm," said Arnold, "as the pattern setting up is a cold one and favorable for all snow across inland southern New England. In addition, the model guidance is now coming around to the idea of a significant snowstorm for most of the northeast United States."

In addition to the likely snow on Thursday and Friday, an intensifying coastal system will add wind to cause "considerable blowing and drifting of the snow all across southern New England."

Temperatures are predicted to hold to the low to middle 20s throughout the storm.

"While it is early to be making a preliminary call on snow depth," said Arnold, "this event does have the potential to be the biggest snowstorm so far this winter, and 10 to 15 inches would seem to be a reasonable estimate."

Arnold adds that given Friday's date of Feb. 8, "the coming storm could be a nice tip of the atmosphere’s cap to one of the greatest storms ever in New England history, the Blizzard of ’78.  In recognition of the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of ’78, the National Weather Service has prepared a nice retrospective of that great storm."