Acton Storm Central: Bitter Cold, Drifting Snow Expected

A winter storm warning is in effect as Acton and much of the region braces for yet another blast of winter's worst -- biting cold, whipping winds and several inches drifting snow are all expected in the storm likely to span Tuesday into Wednesday. 

"Blizzard conditions expected across far southeastern Massachusetts this afternoon through Wednesday evening," reports the National Weather Service. "Heavy snow is likely across much of southern New England." 

The winter storm warning will be in effect through 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, along with a wind chill advisory that'll hit at 10 p.m. tonight and remain in place through 10 a.m. tomorrow morning, the Weather Service says. 

WHDH Meteorologist Jeremy Reiner is expecting about 8 inches of light and fluffy snow to be accompanied by whipping winds of up to 50 miles per hour and wind chills as bitingly cold as -20. 

A few of Reiner's predictions for the storm: 

• Patchy light snow/flurries arriving 1-4pm with steadiest snow from 7pm tonight until 10am Wednesday. Poor travel is expected from 7pm until noon on Wednesday due to falling/drifting snow.
• Heaviest amounts focused on South Shore/Buzzards Bay/Cape/Islands with a foot of snow likely in those areas. Metro Boston plan on 8" of snow. Our *special* map in the maps section details the snowfall potential.
• Snow will be light & fluffy which eliminates threat of widespread power loss BUT the powdery snow means significant blowing/drifting snow leading to poor visibility.
• Wind gust between 35-50 mph likely along coast with gusts between 20-35 mph well inland. This wind will create wind chills between -10 and -20 overnight & early Wednesday morning.
• Thankfully, coastal flooding is not expected to be an issue due to lower astronomical high tides as well as a northerly wind direction (a NE or E wind traps water along the coastline. That happened during the January 3rd event.)