New England Prepares for biggest storm in years

[Ian David]

Coastal Storm expected to pummel New England

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"It won't have a classic nor'easter track, but it will be a significant storm," Simpson said. "It will likely be the largest storm we've seen in years."

On Saturday, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency began preparing for the coastal flooding and swollen streams and rivers expected to accompany the storm, said spokesman Peter Judge. State officials continued to monitor the weather and, even briefly discussed canceling Monday's 111th running of the Boston Marathon, he said.

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The weather system was forecast to strengthen when it reaches the East Coast on Sunday and form a nor'easter, a storm that follows the coast northward, with northeasterly wind driving waves and heavy rain.

Sunday's forecast calls for two or three inches of rain from Rhode Island to the Merrimack River, with even higher totals expected along isolated pockets of the seaboard. Rains are expected to taper off late Sunday night, with intermittent showers on Monday, the day of the Boston Marathon.

As much as one foot of snow could fall on areas with colder air in Maine and upstate New York, Simpson said.

Winds as high as 50 mph will gust along coast and could linger into Monday, slowing marathon runners and causing discomfort on the 26.2-mile course from Hopkinton to Boston.

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