Mid-Atlantic, parts of New England brace for storm

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.

The National Weather Service says a powerful low pressure system will develop off the Mid-Atlantic coast 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 15 centimetres of snow is forecast to hit southeastern Massachusetts on Tuesday evening into Wednesday, and parts of coastal Maine could also see snow. The NWS also 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, starting Tuesday evening and lasting until Wednesday morning, 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. Snowfall totals there could range from 20 to 25 centimetres.

“It is not unusual to have storms this late in the year,” he said, adding that April has seen quite a few big storms in the past. The Boston area got more than five centimetres of snow in an April storm last year and was blanketed with almost 60 centimetres feet the same month in 1997.

“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 and northern Massachusetts could get 5 to 10 centimetres of snow and coastal New Hampshire may see slightly less. Far eastern Maine could get 20 to 35 centimetres.

Coastal Rhode Island, Connecticut and eastern Long Island in New York are expected to get 5 to 12 centimetres, while New York City is expected to get a dusting. Portions of New Jersey and Pennsylvania could get up to 10 centimetres of snow.

Washington, D.C., and northern Virginia might see a small accumulation by Tuesday afternoon, 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 on Monday. Temperatures across the Northeast were below normal. Boston started the day at minus-8 C on Monday but warmed up to a high of 0 C by the afternoon.

Businesses on Cape Cod have had it particularly rough after weathering multiple snowstorms this year.

“Business has been down almost 10 per cent,” said Bill Zimmer, owner of multiple restaurants and hotels on the Cape. “Enough is enough.”