A coastal storm is set to hit southern New England on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, bringing significant snowfall to parts of Massachusetts. The storm is predicted to dump as much as 8 to 12 inches of snow in certain areas.

The weather will start off dry on Saturday night before the winter storm arrives overnight. Heavy snowfall is expected to occur on Sunday and continue into early Monday. Forecasters have high confidence in heavy, wet snow across the high terrains in the interior of the state, including western, central, and northeastern Massachusetts.

However, lower-elevation parts of the state may experience mixed precipitation due to marginal temperatures, making snow accumulation predictions uncertain.

To provide Massachusetts residents with an idea of likely snowfall amounts, the National Weather Service has published several maps. One map reveals that regions such as western Franklin County and northern Worcester County could see snow accumulations of 8 to 12 inches. The eastern slopes of the Berkshires and western parts of the Pioneer Valley anticipate 6 to 8 inches of snow. In contrast, other areas of the state, including the Springfield area and Greater Boston, should expect 1 to 2 inches of snow. Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and Martha's Vineyard are forecasted to receive only up to an inch of snow.

In preparation for this winter storm, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch, effective from Sunday morning to early Monday, for several counties. These include western Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, as well as northern Middlesex and Worcester counties. In these areas, heavy, wet snowfalls of 5 to 10 inches are possible, accompanied by wind gusts of up to 35 mph. The watch also extends to western Essex, eastern Franklin, central Middlesex, and southern Worcester counties, where lower snow accumulations of 4 to 7 inches are anticipated.

Travel is expected to be challenging, with hazardous conditions prevailing throughout Sunday and into Sunday night. The snowfall is projected to taper off to lighter snow showers early Monday morning. Additionally, the heavy, wet snow raises the potential for power outages.

Further details from the National Weather Service's maps indicate specific predictions for snowfall amounts in different cities and towns. For instance, Fitchburg is expected to see 8.8 inches of snow, Worcester 6 inches, Lawrence 4.2 inches, Greenfield 4.1 inches, Pittsfield 3.9 inches, Great Barrington 3 inches, Boston 1.9 inches, Springfield 1.5 inches, and Hyannis 0.2 inches.

The maps also provide the likelihoods of certain amounts of snowfall in various parts of the state. It is highly likely that 1 inch or more of snow will fall throughout Massachusetts, except for the Cape and Islands. However, the likelihood of 6 or more inches falling decreases, with only a 63% chance in Fitchburg, 30% in Greenfield, 29% in Worcester, and 24% in Pittsfield. The chance of 8 or more inches falling in Fitchburg is only 39%.

Following the storm, the weather is expected to become dry for the rest of the workweek, with seasonable temperatures forecasted.

As Massachusetts residents brace for the impending coastal storm, it is crucial to make necessary preparations and stay updated on weather advisories to ensure safety during this snowy event.