BOSTON (AP) – A winter storm bearing down on the region could bring enough snow to break December’s snowfall record in the Boston area.

Boston only needs one more inch of snow to tie the December record of 27.9 inches set in 1970.

A New Year’s Eve storm moving through the area late Sunday and early Monday morning could drop several more inches.

It’s a dramatic shift from last year.

Last December, Boston got less than an inch of snow. That was followed by 1 inch in January and less than 5 inches in February.

Much of the snow this December piled up during three significant snowfalls between Dec. 13 and Dec. 20.

The snow has been an economic boost, with fewer skiers and snowmobilers heading north.

AP-ES-12-30-07 0900EST