Watch CBS News

Snow Storm Just A Close Call?

BOSTON (CBS) – The latest forecast models now suggest a huge snowstorm will miss southern New England.

The storm, expected to arrive Sunday evening, will now likely stay out to sea.

Check: Seven Day Forecast

A day after all of the computer models were showing a powerful nor'easter for our entire region, they have now shifted to the East significantly, meaning the likelihood of a major winter storm here Sunday and Monday has been greatly reduced.

Watch Barry Burbank's forecast

For a nor'easter to come together you need to have all the ingredients just right, much like the pie you may be cooking for the holidays - a little bit too much of one thing or not enough of another and it just doesn't taste right. 

In this case, we had energy from a northern jet stream phasing with (or combining) with a piece of energy in the southern jet stream, while at the same time gathering moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. 

This would form a potent storm off the southeastern U.S., then get drawn up to New England by winds at upper levels of the atmosphere.  A complex series of events for sure!

It now appears that all of these "ingredients" will come together in a slightly different fashion, still creating a very powerful ocean storm, but doing so too far to our east. 

Read: WBZ-TV Weather Blog

There is still a possibility that coastal New England and the Cape might see some light snow Sunday night and early Monday, but at this point it appears our best shot at a white Christmas could come later on Tuesday. 

The storm will stall up in the Canadian Maritimes and rotate spokes of snow southward, leaving us one final chance to whiten the ground before Santa arrives.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.