BOSTON — As the East Coast shivers through an unusually cold early spring, parts of the Mid-Atlantic and New England are bracing for a nor'easter that could bring additional snow to winter-weary residents.
The National Weather Service said on Monday that a powerful low pressure system will develop off the Mid-Atlantic coast on Tuesday night. Where and how much snow falls will depend on the storm's track, according to the weather service. But, cold temperatures and windy conditions will cover the Mid-Atlantic states north into New England.
More than half a foot of snow is forecast to hit southeastern Massachusetts into Wednesday, and parts of coastal Maine could get snow. The NWS called for the potential of minor coastal flooding and some beach erosion along the Massachusetts coast.
Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are expected to be hit the hardest, National Weather Service spokesman Bill Simpson said. The heaviest snowfall is expected early Wednesday, and that could make it a rough commute into work, Simpson said.
“It is not unusual to have storms this late in the year,” he said, adding that April has brought quite a few big storms in the past. Last year, the Boston area got more than 2 inches of snow from an April storm, and in 1997, the city was blanketed with almost 2 feet of snow.
“The snowfall can go early or stay late,” said William Babcock of the NWS. “When you are in New England, it all depends on the year.”
Boston, northern Massachusetts and coastal New Hampshire could get 1 to 2 inches of snow, while areas west of Boston to Worcester are forecast to get about an inch. Far northern Maine could get 4 to 10 inches.
Coastal Rhode Island, Connecticut and eastern Long Island in New York are expected to get 2 to 4 inches, while New York City is expected to get less than an inch. Portions of New Jersey and Pennsylvania could get between 2 and 4 inches of snow.
Washington and northern Virginia might receive 1 to 2 inches of accumulation, but the precipitation is expected to change over to rain by the late evening.
There's still room for forecast adjustments, Simpson said, because the storm is about a day away.
The Northeast has had below-normal temperatures this spring. And, with Easter less than a month away, many people are ready to say so long to snow and frigid conditions.
“I've had enough. It's been a tough winter,” said 65-year-old Robert Larkin, of Winchester, Mass., as he walked through Boston's Financial District. Temperatures across the Northeast were 10 to 20 degrees below normal. Boston started the day at 17 degrees but warmed up to a high of 32 degrees by the afternoon.
Businesses on Cape Cod have had it particularly rough after weathering multiple snowstorms this year.
“Business has been down almost 10 percent,” said Bill Zimmer, owner of multiple restaurants and hotels on the Cape. “Enough is enough.”
