Snow falls, but doesn’t hinder commute; forecasters warn of black ice

By Melissa M. Werthmann and Derek Anderson, Globe Correspondents

A light snow is falling south of the Massachusetts Turnpike, turning roads wet, but it has not hindered drivers dealing with the evening commute, officials said.

While traffic is heavy in some areas, no major incidents have been reported and the weather is “not much of a factor,” said Michael Verseckes, a spokesman for the state Transportation Department.

National Weather Service officials said they were expecting an inch or two of snow south of the Turnpike.

“In lower elevations, a lot of the snow may initially accumulate on the grass,” said Hayden Frank, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Tauton.

Areas with higher elevations, such as Foxborough and the hills of northwest Rhode Island, may see slightly higher accumulations of snow, Frank said this evening.

“It’s going to snow well into the evening,” said Frank. “Precipitation may linger well into the overnight hours.”

Frank said, “This is not looking like a major storm.”

But he said some roads may develop slick spots.

“Black ice is a possibility,” he said. “Use extra caution and be alert for that possibility.”

Extra care should be observed on secondary roads, bridges, or elevated areas, said Frank.

Overall, the snow will be wet and slushy, he said. Parts of the immediate coast may even experience rain instead — particularly in the Cape and islands region.