Just what we needed: Forecasters say some areas of state could get 6 inches of snow Saturday

By Lauren Dezenski and Martin Finucane, Globe Correspondent and Globe Staff

Better enjoy that sunshine while it lasts. The end of the week will likely bring another snowstorm, which will drop 2 to 4 inches of flakes in much of the state and up to 6 inches in some pockets, according to the National Weather Service.

A National Weather Service snowfall forecast map posted on the Web this afternoon shows much of Eastern and Central Massachusetts gettting 2 to 4 inches of snow. Amounts taper off to 1 to 2 inches on much of the south coast, and the outer Cape and islands, as well as the Boston area and the coast north of Boston.

A small area in Central Massachusetts could see 4 to 6 inches, the map said, while smaller amounts are expected farther west.

“This is not going to be any kind of a blockbuster,” said weather service meteorologist Charlie Foley said. The snow is expected to begin at 3 a.m. Saturday.

Areas south of Boston have already seen accumulating snow following weekend’s Blizzard of 2013. Two to 5 inches fell across the South Shore, the Cape, and the islands Wednesday night.

“When you get into a pattern of storms hitting a certain area, that persists,” Foley said.

Prior to Saturday’s potential snow, the Bay State will see mild weather and mostly clear skies, featuring highs in the low 40s today and the upper 40s Friday. Saturday night will herald the beginning of Arctic air, which will grip the state through next week, Foley said, with daytime highs in the upper 20s and overnight lows dropping to the teens.

Meanwhile, as efforts to clean up from last weekend’s storm continue, the next week has the hint of yet another storm, Foley said, though it is too early to know how much snow could fall.

Forecasters say rain is expected Tuesday across the shores and coastal plain, with snow toward the interior.

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