'Major' nor'easter brewing

Expect plenty of forecast mutations during the next 48 hours, but right now it is looking more likely that March will exit dramatically, and April will enter nastily.

In this evening's discussion, the National Weather Service alludes to an "increasing consensus for a major nor'easter" Thursday night into Friday.

Some nuisance rain and snow -- mostly rain -- is expected tomorrow into tomorrow night, and it shouldn't do anything more than whiten the grass and the mailboxes.

But then a potentially more-disruptive sequel storm is forecast to track toward the coast and blow up, generating powerful winds and heavy precipitation.

The rain/snow line will depend on where the storm deepens and how it tracks.

That line could set up near the I-95 corridor, and it's at least possible that places just to the north and west of the city, particularly elevated areas, end up with several inches of very soggy snow.

As the weather service notes, this is not what your local utiility company wants to read.

On the wet side of the line, flooding rains are possible as computer models are suggesting 1.5 to 2.5 inches of precipitation.

This threat should get plenty of buzz during the next two days. If you want to monitor the thoughts of some of the experts and enthusiasts, check out the American Weather Forum.