Nor'easter Headed For MetroWest: See Storm Timing, Snow Amounts

SUDBURY, MA — It's been more than a year since the region saw a major weekday snowstorm, and it appears Mother Nature has been saving up.

A Nor'easter will move into the region beginning around 7 p.m. Wednesday, bringing the potential of up to 12 inches of snow north and south of the Mass Pike, according to the latest forecasts. The entire region will be under a winter storm warning until the storm tapers off around 1 p.m. Thursday.

The storm is expected to make travel very difficult, especially on Thursday morning. Local school districts will be in a unique position compared to almost every other year in memory. Due to remote learning related to the pandemic, many districts will be able to hold classes on Thursday.

As of Tuesday night, Marlborough had already called a remote snow day, and Subdury Public Schools had notified parents of the possibility. Framingham Public Schools will stay remote through the storm, but the district is canceling food distribution programs on Thursday, allowing students to grab an extra meal on Wednesday.

Apart from being careful out on the roadways, drivers in local towns and cities should be aware of possible parking bans. Marlborough has an annual winter parking began that began on Dec. 1. But cities like Framingham and Worcester may declare parking bans as the weather worsens.

The storm is also expected to bring high winds up to 35 mph to the area, which, combined with heavy snow, could cause power outages. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency keeps a map of all outages in the state at any given moment, including estimated restoration times.

If you're headed out of the area on either Wednesday or Thursday, the storm is expected to be worse south of Massachusetts in the New York City area. Areas south of Bristol and Plymouth counties out to Cape Cod may see less snow than MetroWest, but only a few inches, according to forecasts.

The National Weather Service is warning the region will likely see some significant snowfall, but exact totals may vary as forecasts change over the next 18 to 24 hours. The latest model calls for between 8 and 12 inches between Worcester and Framingham.