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A powerful late-season winter storm is expected to slam eastern Massachusetts beginning Sunday afternoon, prompting a blizzard warning for Winchester and marking the fourth major snowstorm to affect the town this winter.
The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Winchester from 4 p.m. Sunday through 7 a.m. Tuesday, warning of heavy snow, strong winds and whiteout conditions that could make travel dangerous or impossible.
Forecasters say snow will begin developing Sunday night, becoming heavy late Sunday night into Monday. Total accumulations of 1 to 2 feet are possible across portions of eastern Massachusetts, including Middlesex County, with wind gusts as high as 60 mph in parts of the region.
In Winchester, the detailed forecast calls for snow mainly after 11 p.m. Sunday, with 2 to 4 inches possible overnight. The heaviest snowfall is expected Monday, when an additional 10 to 14 inches could fall during the day. Another 1 to 3 inches are possible Monday night before conditions begin improving early Tuesday.
Winds are forecast to gust between 40 and 50 mph Monday, creating blowing and drifting snow. Blizzard conditions are defined as sustained winds or frequent gusts of at least 35 mph combined with falling or blowing snow that reduces visibility to a quarter mile or less for at least three hours.
The warning states that visibilities may drop below a quarter mile at times, with strong winds and the weight of wet snow potentially downing tree limbs and power lines. Travel is expected to be treacherous and potentially life-threatening during the height of the storm, particularly late Sunday night through Monday afternoon.
The storm will be the fourth plowable snowfall event to hit Winchester during the 2025-26 winter season.
The largest so far occurred Jan. 25-27, when a strong coastal system brought double-digit snowfall totals to much of eastern Massachusetts. That prolonged storm caused significant travel disruption and extended cleanup efforts across town, with snowbanks narrowing residential streets for days.
A moderate snowstorm followed Feb. 6-7, delivering several inches of accumulation and slick road conditions. Just days later, another system moved through Feb. 10-11, adding to seasonal totals and extending snow removal operations.
The late-February storm now approaching has the potential to rival those earlier events in overall impact because of the combination of heavy snow and high winds.
Town officials are urging residents to limit nonessential travel during the storm, move vehicles off streets to allow for plowing and prepare for possible power outages. Residents are also encouraged to check on elderly neighbors and ensure that emergency supplies are available in case conditions deteriorate rapidly.
The hazardous conditions are expected to affect both the Monday morning and evening commutes. Forecasters say the most intense snowfall rates could occur during that period, leading to near-zero visibility at times.
Conditions are expected to improve Tuesday, with mostly sunny skies and colder temperatures forecast once the storm pulls away.
With this latest system, Winchester will have endured four significant snow events in less than a month — a persistent winter pattern that continues to test residents, public works crews and local infrastructure as February comes to a close.
Will Dowd is a Massachusetts journalist who covers municipal government and community life for Winchester News. He runs The Marblehead Independent, a reader-funded digital newsroom.
