Get out the shovels and plows; MetroWest expected to get 4-6 inches of snow Tuesday

FRAMINGHAM — Forecasts have been downgraded from The National Weather Service's Monday prediction of up to 12 inches of snowfall in MetroWest and Greater Milford from a nor'easter that was expected to arrive just after midnight.

This morning, StormTeam 5 has cut back on expected snowfall amounts for much of Massachusetts. The projection for MetroWest now looks like 4-6 inches. Computer projections suggest the heaviest snow will fall mainly south of the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Alan Dunham, a meteorologist with NWS' office in Norton, told the Daily News that the heaviest part of the storm is expected to start about 8 a.m. Tuesday, begin winding down about 3-4 p.m. and end between 5-7 p.m.

Snowfall accumulation could at times come down at a rate of 1 to 2 inches per hour.

The snow is expected to be wet and heavy, making it hard for plows to keep up, Dunham said.

Winds are expected to gust up to 30-35 mph in MetroWest and Greater Milford, with more powerful winds near the coast.

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Winter storm warning is in effect

A winter storm warning is in effect for all of Massachusetts, except for the Cape and Islands.

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Officials from energy company Eversource said in a statement that they're "ready to respond to any storm-related power outages or damage to the electric system."

“The heavy, wet snow can weigh down tree limbs and branches, possibly bringing them down onto electric lines and equipment, causing damage and power outages," said Eversource President of Regional Electric Operations Craig Hallstrom, in a statement. "The hazardous conditions can also make travel challenging for our crews, so we’re staging extra staff and equipment across the state to ensure we’re ready to respond as quickly and as safely as possible."

For the latest forecasts and warnings, check out the Framingham alerts and Milford notifications.

What is the forecast after Tuesday's storm?

The snow will make way for a cold Wednesday in Framingham and surrounding communities, with high temperatures expected to reach only the low 30s, according to Dunham, making cleanup difficult. Scattered power outages are expected.

More snow is expected Thursday night into early Friday, leading to a partly sunny Saturday and a mostly sunny Sunday. High temperatures will remain in the low to mid-30s.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Winter weather: How much snow is forecast in Framingham, Milford?