Back when it was still 2013, weather pundits were predicting the first nor’easter of the new year to bring anywhere between six to 12 inches of snow accompanied by 25 to 50 mph wind gusts. But now that it’s 2014 and the onset of Boston’s winter storm is upon us, the National Weather Service (NWS) upping those numbers substantially.

With a winter storm warning for much of Massachusetts’ east coast, and a blizzard warning along the south shore and Cape Cod – both of which are expected to expire Friday morning barring any setbacks – the NWS is predicting Thursday morning that we’ll see snow accumulations in the eight to 14 inches range at a rate of one to two inches per hour.

Adding to the torrents of Boston’s first snowstorm of the year are wind gusts which will add to blinding visibility conditions. Northeasterly winds will be blustering at a staggering 20 to 30 mph with gusts reaching as high as 45 mph leading to a visibility of roughly one quarter of a mile – or just the length of one lap around a standard track.

The cities most in risk of the most hazardous winter conditions, according to the NWS, are Gloucester, Foxboro, Norwood, Quincy, Taunton, Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, Mattapoisett, and of course Cambridge and Boston.

Stay tuned to the NWS and BostInno for these estimates are bound to change slightly as the day moves forward. For a complete list of tips and tricks for navigating and parking throughout the city (which you should’t attempt to do unless absolutely necessary), apps to keep you warm or help to alleviate plowing duties, cocktail recipes to make the storm interesting, and updates on traffic and likely travel delays check out BostInno’s comprehensive coverage on the winter storm right here.