Early November Nor'easter: What to Expect

After nine days since Superstorm Sandy, we have another storm bearing down on us. This time around though, instead of a hurricane, we will be dealing with a combination of snow/mix/and rain due to a dynamic nor'easter as we get an early taste of winter here in Western Massachusetts. A Winter Weather Advisory has been posted for Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin County from 2PM this afternoon to 7AM Thursday for accumulations of snow between 1 and 4 inches followed by the potential for some light freezing rain. It doesn't take much snow to cause roads to become slippery out there so take it easy while driving this evening. In addition, winds will gust up to 45 mph in spots making it feel very chilly! Stay tuned by following my Twitter (@SenhW) where I will be posting updates and live coverage of the event.

Below is my snowfall map from yesterday. Click map to enlarge image.

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1021 AM EST WED NOV 7 2012

...ACCUMULATING SNOW FOLLOWED BY A LIGHT GLAZE OF ICE IS EXPECTED
LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT ACROSS INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...

CTZ002>004-MAZ002>004-008>012-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001-072330-
/O.CON.KBOX.WW.Y.0012.121107T1900Z-121108T1200Z/
HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-WESTERN FRANKLIN MA-
EASTERN FRANKLIN MA-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA-WESTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-
WESTERN HAMPDEN MA-EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-
SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA-NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-CHESHIRE NH-
EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH-WESTERN AND CENTRAL HILLSBOROUGH NH-
NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...UNION...
VERNON...PUTNAM...WILLIMANTIC...CHARLEMONT...GREENFIELD...
ORANGE...BARRE...FITCHBURG...CHESTERFIELD...BLANDFORD...AMHERST...
NORTHAMPTON...SPRINGFIELD...MILFORD...WORCESTER...AYER...
JAFFREY...KEENE...MANCHESTER...NASHUA...PETERBOROUGH...WEARE...
FOSTER...SMITHFIELD
1021 AM EST WED NOV 7 2012

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM THIS
AFTERNOON TO 7 AM EST THURSDAY...

* LOCATIONS...SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE...WESTERN AND CENTRAL
  MASSACHUSETTS...NORTHERN CONNECTICUT AND FAR NORTHWEST RHODE
  ISLAND.

* HAZARD TYPES...ACCUMULATING SNOW FOLLOWED BY THE POTENTIAL FOR
  SOME LIGHT FREEZING RAIN.

* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION BETWEEN 1 AND 4 INCHES...
  ALONG WITH UP TO A TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE. THE BEST CHANCE
  FOR THE HIGHER SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE ACROSS THE HIGHER
  TERRAIN.

* TIMING...SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD THE REGION FROM SOUTH TO NORTH.
  THIS WILL OCCUR BY MID AFTERNOON IN AREAS SOUTH OF THE
  MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE. THE SNOW WILL ARRIVE ACROSS INTERIOR
  NORTHERN MASSACHUSETTS AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE BY LATE
  AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. THE SNOW WILL THEN CHANGE TO LIGHT
  FREEZING RAIN AND PERHAPS EVENTUALLY PLAIN RAIN IN SOME
  LOCATIONS LATER TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS...UNTREATED ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED AND
  SLIPPERY. THE EVENING RUSH HOUR WILL BE IMPACTED IN SOME
  LOCATIONS.

* WINDS...NORTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...NEAR FREEZING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SNOW AND/OR ICE IS
FORECAST TO DEVELOP IN THE AFFECTED AREAS...BUT ACCUMULATIONS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT. ANY SNOW OR ICE WOULD MAKE DRIVING AND
WALKING DIFFICULT...BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE...ON UNTREATED ROADWAYS
AND SIDEWALKS.  WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW FREEZING...MOTORISTS
NEED TO BE ESPECIALLY CAREFUL ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WHERE
SLIPPERY SPOTS CAN EASILY DEVELOP.