Maps and Charts
Snowfall Forecast
Tuesday February 9, 2010 05:59 PM
Tuesday AM Update: A rapidly intensifying storm system will track from coastal Virginia to well south and east of Cape Cod on Wednesday, spreading a shield of snow and high winds northward into the area.
Snow should break out across the Cape between 9 and 11AM Wednesday and quickly become steady and locally heavy at times. With temperatures in the lower to middle 30s at the start of the event, the snow will be heavy and wet, and may even be mixed with some rain from Chatham to Provincetown - this will limit accumulations for the first half of the event. However, as the day progresses, the atmosphere will cool and all snow is expected across the Cape during the afternoon and through Wednesday Night. Very strong northeast winds are expected Wednesday night across Cape Cod - gusts as high as 55 or even 60 mph may affect the region.
Due to the heavy, wet nature of the snowfall, winds of this magnitude are likely to cause substantial power disruptions and tree and limb damage. Prepare for power outages.
Snowfall Forecast Totals:
The amount of snow that falls will be highly dependent on accumulations received during the daylight hours on Wednesday. Milder daytime temperatures would mean a wetter, more compact snowfall with some melting and potentially some rain mixing in at times, particularly east of Hyannis. A slightly colder atmosphere initially will lead to greater daytime accumulations. For now, the previously issued snowfall map looks on target. CapeCodWeather.Net is currently expecting close to 6 or 7" of snow on the Lower Cape northward to Truro and P-town, about 8 or 9" of snow from Dennis westward through Barnstable and totals closer to 10 or 12" across the Upper Cape and out to the canal.
It is important to note that a slightly colder scenario may very well verify, which would mean higher totals than currently forecast - and this will be monitored through today and tonight...and updated as necessary.
Monday PM Forecast: A major winter storm is expected to develop later Tuesday and track northeastward toward Cape Cod Wednesday afternoon and continue into Thursday morning.
This storm is likely to impact Cape Cod with very strong winds and periods of heavy snow. While the exact track and precipitation amounts remain somewhat in question, the storm's track favors a heavy snow event on Cape Cod. As the storm moves toward the region it will intensify into a very strong storm center, and consequently is likely to create a period of powerful north and northeast winds, gusting in excess of 60 mph at times late Wednesday night.
This map is a first call snowfall forecast. It should be noted, that even higher totals could verify across Cape Cod depending upon just how "wet" the snow is and whether any rain mixes in during the height of the storm. Currently, odds favor the highest totals on the Upper Cape, where in excess of 10" of snow is possible. The snow is likely to fall with temperatures in the lower 30s, which means a very heavy, wet snowfall is possible - this, combined with strong winds may result in power outages. Check back for updates.
Comments
I believe the median date for the last 1" snowfall on Cape Cod is March 16th. But it can vary widely from year to year.
Hi Tim,
I think Falmouth does stand a good chance to be near a foot when all is set and done Thursday morning. Rain mixing in will be a factor for a time Wednesday but the worst of the storm for us on Cape Cod will be Wed. evening and through Wed. night when precipitation will be all snow, and likely quite heavy at that. Highest totals on the Upper Cape. That's my thinking right now.