Cape Cod weather forecast: 'Major coastal storm' on the way

Just when we thought winter might be over, a potent nor'easter is rolling toward New England.

For Cape Cod, strong winds will likely be the most serious threat, served up with drenching rains. For other parts of the region, heavy, wet snow will add to the weather woes.

According to the National Weather Service, a "major coastal storm" is due in our area, starting Monday night and lasting into Wednesday morning, with "heavy wet snow, strong winds, possible power outages, and minor to possibly pockets of moderate coastal flooding."

Cape Cod and the South Shore will likely see damaging wind gusts. A High Wind Warning is in effect for Barnstable County from 8 a.m. Tuesday to 2 p.m. Wednesday. North winds of 25 to 35 mph are expected with gusts up to 60 mph.

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While temperatures on Cape Cod will likely stay high enough to avoid much snow, we could still see two inches of rain during the storm. It will likely be a different story away from the coast, especially in higher terrain where "significant accumulations of heavy wet/dense snow will weigh on trees, powerlines and structures," according to the National Weather Service.

A Coastal Flood Watch is in effect from late Tuesday night through Wednesday morning for the eastern Massachusetts coast from the Merrimack River to Cape Cod. Big waves are also expected to be part of the package, especially off the backshore of Cape Cod, where seas could rise to 17 to 22 feet on Tuesday night.

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Here is the Hyannis forecast from the National Weather Service

Monday night: Rain, mainly after 2 a.m. Low around 39. Breezy, with an east wind 17 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday: Rain. High near 41. Windy, with an east wind 28 to 34 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Tuesday night: Rain before 2 a.m., then snow likely. Low around 33. Windy, with a north wind around 26 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible.

Wednesday: Snow likely before 9 a.m., then rain likely, possibly mixed with snow between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., then rain likely after 11 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Windy, with a north wind around 31 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than one-half inch possible.

Wednesday night: A chance of rain, mainly before 9 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Windy, with a north wind 26 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Breezy, with a north wind 16 to 22 mph.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod weather forecast: Coastal storm, high winds, rain, wet snow