A SNOW-LESS Winter in Bahstin...

Snow expected to arrive Tuesday morning; up to 21 inches expected

Winter weather will deliver a powerful one-two punch to Massachusetts and its snow-fatigued residents, dumping as much as 21 inches of snow on some areas of the state on Tuesday and Wednesday, the National Weather Service said today.

A snowfall total prediction map released this afternoon by the weather service showed 18 inches or more falling over the northern half of the state, including 21 inches in north central areas. The amounts taper gradually heading south. The Boston area will get 16 inches, according to the map.

Most of the southern half of the state will get more than a foot, with only sections of southeastern Massachusetts, and the Cape and islands dodging the bullet.

The snow will start in western Massachusetts early Tuesday, then arrive in Eastern Massachusetts by 5 a.m. or 6 a.m. By the afternoon commute, 4 to 8 inches may have accumulated, the forecasters said, warning of dangerous travel conditions.

The snow will taper off Tuesday evening. Then precipitation will resume Wednesday morning. The snow will mix with, and change to, sleet and freezing rain south of the Turnpike. North of the Pike, it could be Wednesday afternoon before snow mixes with sleet and perhaps freezing rain, the forecasters said.

Tonight
Snow. Snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches. Lows 17 to 21. Northeast winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

Tuesday
Windy...cloudy. Chance of snow in the morning...then snow in the afternoon. Areas of blowing snow in the afternoon. Snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches. Highs in the mid 20s. Northeast winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 40 mph at times. Chance of precipitation 80 percent.

Tuesday Night
Very windy. Periods of snow and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Areas of blowing snow with visibility one quarter mile or less at times. Snow may be heavy at times. Snow accumulation of 10 to 14 inches. Lows 13 to 17. Wind chills as low as zero to 10 below zero. Northeast winds 30 to 40 mph. Gusts up to 50 mph in the evening increasing to 55 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation 100 percent.

Wednesday
Very windy. Cloudy. Areas of blowing snow with visibility one quarter mile or less at times in the morning. Periods of snow in the morning...then a chance of light snow in the afternoon. Several inches of accumulation possible. Highs in the mid 20s. North winds 25 to 35 mph. Gusts up to 55 mph in the morning decreasing to 40 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation 90 percent.

Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy in the evening then clearing. Lows 5 to 9 below. Then temperatures becoming steady or slowly rising. Lowest wind chill readings 15 below to 25 below zero after midnight. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

Thursday
Sunny. Highs 10 to 14.

For the second time this month, Logan International Airport received permission from the state Department of
Environmental Protection to blow snow into Boston Harbor because there is no place left to put it on the airfield.