Another strong storm to hit Massachusetts with heavy rain, strong winds, flooding: ‘Plan ahead if traveling’
Well at least the first two strong storms of December aren’t snowy.
For the second straight week, a spring-like storm will pound the Bay State with heavy rain, strong winds and flooding.
Local meteorologists are warning residents that the storm will snarl the Monday morning commute, telling people to “plan ahead if traveling.”
The strong storm moving up the coast is expected to bring heavy rainfall, mild temps and strong coastal winds from Sunday night into Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Some river and coastal flooding will be possible.
“It looks like light precipitation will be moving in later Sunday for the Boston-area, and then the rain chances increase Sunday night through much of Monday,” Bill Leatham, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Boston office, told the Herald.
“Rainfall could potentially be heavy when folks are commuting Monday morning,” he added. “People should plan ahead if traveling, and allow extra time to get to their destination.”
More than 2 inches of rain will be possible with this system. Forecasters will be monitoring the risk for inland river flooding.
Some strong wind gusts might coincide with the heavy rain for the Monday morning commute. Wind gusts could top 60 mph across parts of the Cape and Islands.
These strong southerly winds are also likely to produce a storm surge that may spark a coastal flood threat.
“We’ve got our eye on the potential for service disruptions on Monday from a storm moving up the East Coast that may bring high winds to Cape Cod and the Islands,” posted the Steamship Authority, which provides ferry service to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
The highest risk for any power outages would be along the Cape and Islands due to the strongest wind gusts there.
“There’s potential for that, but the good thing is the trees are not fully leafed now,” Leatham said. “That mitigates the risk a little bit.”
Temperatures will again be unseasonably mild with this storm. High temps on Monday — one week before Christmas Day — are expected to hit 60 degrees.
However, there will be a major temperature swing following the storm.
“We should see some pretty cold air behind this system,” Leatham said. “We’ll see a big change midweek with highs around 40 degrees.”