HYANNIS – Two winter storms are impacting the region over the next few days.
The first delivered some light snow to the Cape and Islands Friday morning with little to no accumulation.
The second, larger storm, is set for Saturday night and Sunday. Snow and rain will begin Saturday evening and continue into Sunday when it turns to rain and freezing rain.
The Cape could see 2 to 4 inches before it turns to rain.
Temperatures are expected to fall rapidly Sunday afternoon and evening, resulting in a flash freeze.
Areas of mixed precipitation could transition back to snow before ending Sunday evening. Some light snow may linger over high terrain into Sunday night.
Significant ice accretion is possible in areas that experience mixed precipitation, but Meteorologist Alan Dunhan with the National Weather Service in Norton said Cape Cod should not see any major problems with ice buildup.
Interior southeastern Massachusetts could receive up to 1/4 – 1/2” of ice with lower totals to the northwest and southeast of that area.
“Saturday night, snow will come at the beginning, with a little bit of chance of freezing rain. We’re just looking for a light accumulation before it changes over to rain,” he said.
“Sunday, rain with some freezing rain, especially in the morning on the Upper Cape…then the rain on Sunday will be heavy at times,” he said.
35-50 MPH wind gusts are possible along the coast on Sunday, with up to 30 MPH gusts possible inland.
Minor to moderate coastal flooding is possible on east-facing shorelines around the time of the Sunday morning high tide at around 10 a.m.
Some beach erosion may occur and vulnerable shore roads may be inundated around the time of the Sunday morning high tide.
Eversource says they are ready for this weekend’s winter blast that will deliver snow, ice, sleet and freezing rain to the region.
The energy company has line workers, tree crews and support staff ready to respond to any outages.
They’re also encouraging customers to prepare for the possibility of outages.
“We are closely monitoring weather conditions and planning accordingly so we have crews in position to respond and be there for our customers when they need us,” said Eversource Vice President of Electric System Operations Doug Foley.
“Given the extremely cold temperatures we’re expecting following the storm, it’s crucial for customers to take precautions and prepare in the event of power outages.”
Eversource recommends customers assemble or restock a storm kit with essential items, including pet food and medications, before a storm strikes.
Customers should stay clear of downed wires and to report them immediately to 9-1-1. Be sure to report any outage online at www.eversource.com, or by calling 800-286-2000.
Customers who signed up for the company’s two-way texting feature can send a text to report an outage and receive outage updates as they happen.
Additional preparedness tips can be found at the Storm Preparedness section at Eversource.com.
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