Snow Storm on Anniversary of the Blizzard of '78

The National Weather Service reports that there is a "chance of snow" every day from Wednesday, Feb. 5, through Friday, Feb. 7 in the area.

The snow comes on the week of the anniversary of the Blizzard of '78. This blizzard saw a total of 27.1 inches of snow in Boston and 99 deaths as well as over $520 million in damage.

In recognition of the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of ’78, the National Weather Service has prepared a retrospective of that storm.

According to Jim Arnold, weather specialist with the Shrewsbury Management Agency, the brunt of this weeks snow would likely hit the area on Thursday and Friday.

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"Right now I see little chance of any freezing rain, sleet or ice with this storm," said Arnold, "as the pattern setting up is a cold one and favorable for all snow across inland southern New England. In addition, the model guidance is now coming around to the idea of a significant snowstorm for most of the northeast United States."

In addition to the likely snow on Thursday and Friday, an intensifying coastal system will add wind to cause "considerable blowing and drifting of the snow all across southern New England."

Temperatures are predicted to hold to the low to middle 20s throughout the storm.

"While it is early to be making a preliminary call on snow depth," said Arnold, "this event does have the potential to be the biggest snowstorm so far this winter, and 10 to 15 inches would seem to be a reasonable estimate."