wx_observer

didn’t realize the winds were expected to be this high this far inland. That, plus 12-18” sounds like generator territory. URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 335 PM EDT Sun Mar 12 2023 MAZ002>004-008-009-026-130845- /O.UPG.KBOX.WS.A.0005.230314T0000Z-230315T1200Z/ /O.NEW.KBOX.WS.W.0004.230314T0000Z-230315T1200Z/ Western Franklin MA-Eastern Franklin MA-Northern Worcester MA- Western Hampshire MA-Western Hampden MA-Northern Middlesex MA- Including the cities of Charlemont, Greenfield, Orange, Barre, Fitchburg, Chesterfield, Blandford, and Ayer 335 PM EDT Sun Mar 12 2023 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM MONDAY TO 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Heavy wet snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 18 inches. Winds gusting as high as 55 mph. * WHERE...the high terrain of western and central Massachusetts. * WHEN...From 8 PM Monday to 8 AM EDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible, with snow covered roads and near zero visibility at times. Gusty winds could bring down tree branches. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...heavy wet snow combined with gusty winds will increase the risk for power outages. This will be a high impactful winter storm. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

Any educated guesses on how much ice accretion we're looking at in SNE?

Been waiting for snow all freaking winter...and it comes on the one day I don't want it. Early AM meeting at school tomorrow--any guess at school cancellations for Worcester?

Pinging here now pretty well north of Pike...didn't think the sleet would make it this far N

6" on the N side of Worcester so far. Snowfall rates have been pretty heavy for the past few hours.

Someone's kid home on February vacation made the maps at NWS today.

I have 100’ of public sidewalk I’m responsible for cleaning. Note to self: next time, buy the house on the other side of the road, lol.

I suppose this should solidify any remaining pack nicely...

Does higher elevation in an event like this make it more likely to have freezing rain instead of sleet? In that there would be less cold air near the surface to allow a refreezing into pellets?

It's a bonus when just enough freezing rain mixes in with the sleet to turn the slushy ice pellets into a solid mass. The main roads in Worcester are looking gnarly right now. Looking at the trees, we've been getting quite a bit of freezing rain here. I tried to get a photo out the window, but the screen is iced shut.

Crash helmet time in Central MA--that sleet means business!

After a period of sleet in Worcester, it looks like we have changed back to freezing rain...though much lighter precipitation than earlier this morning.

Not all kids can access their education well remotely, and K-12 students have already experienced a significant social emotional impact from remote learning. On paper, it makes sense to have remote days count. In real life, it doesn't look like this is what is the right thing to do for students at the K-12 level.

This turned to ice in Worcester at some point in the past 45 minutes. Surfaces are getting a glaze on them now.

Private schools, like St John's did have today as a remote day. The state has ruled that no remote days will count towards the 180 this year, so public schools won't do remote days.

Why are so many winter storm warnings still up in MA? It doesn’t seem like the forecast meets criteria.

Closings list is pretty long, for the day before anyway: https://www.wcvb.com/weather/closings

A lot of QPF there in that area south of the snowfall line. Doesn't matter if its sleet or freezing rain, it's not going to be pretty if that pans out.

That 2008 storm did take down a lot of the weaker trees, for sure. That was right around when the longhorn beetle showed up in MA—wonder if that storm slowed down or sped up the spread of the beetle with all the downed trees that got moved around.

No thanks on the ice storm warnings. Would rather one of those fish falling from the sky events than an ice storm. That one we had in 2008 was the last one of those I ever need to see…in a lifetime. At least you can make snow cones with sleet…right?

School closures, probably. I’m l ready hearing that it is expected to be a snow day.

Harvey just mentioned about 1-3” sleet. Better than getting it as all ice I guess…

We're getting the best snow of the day right now

RadarScope just gave that band a storm cell...

Radar disintegrating a lot since 5pm, between that dry slot, and the western edge of precipitation collapsing. Enjoying that final band of heavier snow coming down in central MA. What a rapid wind down, unless I'm missing something.