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Snow Could Start During Afternoon Commute

BOSTON (CBS) – Snow is coming Wednesday and it may start lightly during the afternoon commute.

There is a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 4 p.m. until 10 a.m. Thursday.

Watch Barry's Forecast

TIMELINE 

There is an initial batch of precipitation that has broken away from the main area and has brought snow to places like New York City and southern Connecticut this morning.

This slug of rain and snow will likely bring some light precipitation to our area this afternoon and early evening, ahead of the main storm system. 

There could be some light accumulation through this evening's commute, but we do not expect anything major before 7p.m. tonight. 

After 7p.m., the main area of low pressure approaches from the south and steady snow overspreads the area from south to north. 

The "brunt" of this storm will be from about 10 p.m. through 6 a.m., that is when most of the accumulation will occur. 

The snow will taper off quickly Thursday morning, ending in most spots between 7 and 9 a.m. 

ACCUMULATION

The heaviest snow totals will be found to the south of Boston where we are forecasting 6-to-10 inches for most of Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol Counties. 

The heavy snow may also extend down to the upper Cape as well.  Farther east out on Cape Cod snow totals will decrease due to mixing - 3-to-6 inches on the mid-Cape and 1-to-3 for the outer Cape and Nantucket. 

As for areas north and west of Boston, there will be a very sharp cutoff, so snow totals are a tough call. 

We are forecasting 3-to-6 inches from Routes 128 to 495, into Middlesex and Worcester Counties and a very sharp drop off to near nothing beyond there. 

I am a bit concerned that the sharp cutoff to very light snow could wind up a bit farther east and many of our not-too-distant northwest suburbs could receive a smaller amount of snow than forecast.

WIND & WAVES 

There are no major concerns here, although some strong northeast winds will set up along the coastline, especially in southeastern Massachusetts. 

Winds may gust to 50 mph along the South Shore and Cape Cod. 

The one high tide of concern is Thursday at 5 a.m., there may be some minor coastal flooding, certainly some big wave action, but again, no major coastal issues are forecast.

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