Winter Storm Pluto the Third Snowstorm in a Week Headed For New England (FORECAST)

Chris Dolce
Published: February 15,2017
Winter Storm Pluto will be New England's third snowstorm in about a week's time, piling onto the feet of snow that have already fallen since last Thursday.
(MORE: Winter Storm Central | Science Behind Naming Winter Storms)
The National Weather Service has posted winter storms warnings over a large swath of Maine, much of New Hampshire and parts of northern Vermont, including the cities of Augusta, Maine, Bangor, Maine, Concord, New Hampshire, and Montpelier, Vermont.
A winter storm watch has been posted for Essex County, Massachusetts, north of downtown Boston.

Winter Weather Alerts

A southward dip in the jet stream, combined with a disturbance from the Southeast, will trigger the development and intensification of low pressure off the New England coast later today into Thursday.
Will this intensification will be too late to produce a major, widespread snowstorm across the entire Northeast, the aforementioned swath of northern New England won't get off the hook for more heavy snow.

A southward dip in the jet stream will sweep across the East, helping to induce low pressure development off the coast.

Winter Storms Niko and Orson have already brought more than three feet of snow to parts of Maine since last Thursday. Eastport, Maine, has seen 59.1 inches of snow in that time.
(STORM RECAPS: Niko | Orson)
Here's a look at the timing and forecast snowfall for Winter Storm Pluto.

Forecast Timing

Wednesday

• Light to moderate snow will sweep from the Great Lakes into upstate New York and New England.
• Heavier snow may develop in parts of western Maine and New Hampshire late, as low pressure pivots off the coast with a trough of surface low pressure extending northwestward.
• Most of southern New England should see mainly rain during the day, with the exception of the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, where snow may fall.
• Forecast: Albany, New York | Boston | Portland, Maine

Wednesday's Forecast

Wednesday Night-Thursday

• Heavy snow will fall from parts of northeast Vermont, and New Hampshire into western, southern and Downeast Maine. 
• Winds will also intensify from coastal Maine to Cape Cod, Nantucket Island and Martha's Vineyard, with gusts over 50 mph possible. 
• Some light snow should wrap into parts of southern New England, including the Boston metro area.
• The snow should taper off and move out of Maine by Thursday afternoon or evening.
• Central and western New York into western Pennsylvania and the mountains of West Virginia will also see additional light snowfall, including some heavier lake-effect snow squalls.
• Forecast: Bangor, Maine | Concord, New Hampshire

Thursday's Forecast

How Much Snow?

• Parts of western and southern Maine into northern New Hampshire could see another foot of snow, or more.
• Otherwise, at least 6 inches of snow will fall over much of Maine, New Hampshire, northern Vermont and the Adirondacks of Upstate New York.
• Lake-effect snow will also produce locally higher totals greater than 6 inches in parts of western and central New York.

(MORE: Interactive Snow Forecast Map)

Snowfall Forecast Through Thursday

In coastal Maine, snow will likely be heavy and wet, which, when combined with stronger wind gusts exceeding 50 mph, at times, could lead to power outages.
Given the amount of recent snow, roof collapses are becoming an increasing concern in parts of Maine, primarily on weaker, older buildings and those with flat roofs.

PHOTOS: Winter Storm Orson (Feb. 12-13, 2017)