When will it start snowing? Winter storm with blizzard warning heading to Massachusetts

Winter storm snow forecast for Massachusetts for Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. (National Weather Service).
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If you’d forgotten what a real New England nor’easter was like, you’ll remember by the end of this weekend.

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for portions of Eastern and Northeastern Massachusetts from midnight Friday to midnight Saturday as a powerful, multifaceted winter storm moves into the region, bringing up to 30 inches of snow in portions of Eastern Massachusetts.

A winter storm warning is in effect for the entire state.

The predicted snow totals lessen as you head west but most of the state is looking at about a foot of snow or more.

So, when will the big storm start?

Bay Staters may start to see some snow flurries on Friday as the storm system begins to move in, but don’t expect much. According to the National Weather Service, things will begin to “ramp up” just after midnight with the bulk of the storm arriving on Saturday.

Light to moderate snow is predicted to move into the south coast around midnight and then spread north and west.

“Heavy snow won’t start in earnest until after 5 to 7 a.m. or so,” the National Weather Service said. “We’ll be waking up to snowfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches centered over Southeast, Mass.”

The snow will fall heavy at times on Saturday, with the potential of snow falling at a rate of 2 to 4 inches an hour. This storm is the real deal.

As of Friday afternoon, the uncertainty is on the westward front of the storm and just how far west those high snow totals will reach.

And it’s not just the snow. High winds combined with temperatures dropping into the teens could yield wind chills of 10 below zero. And the blowing and drifting snow, which will persist even after the snow comes to an end Saturday evening, is expected to create near white-out conditions.

The area from Cape Ann to Cape Cod, including the islands, could see the strongest winds with the National Weather Service warning they could reach hurricane-force gusts of up to 74 mph.

Tree damage and power outages are possible.

“Don’t venture out if at all possible,” the National Weather Service said.

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