Sloppy storm expected to slow morning commute

February 6, 2008 12:16 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By Globe Staff

A sloppy winter storm is expected to coat much of Massachusetts in a sheet of ice tonight as plunging temperatures turn rain into sleet.

Patches of rain and drizzle are predicted to persist this afternoon as temperatures hover in the upper 30s. That should leave roads clear for the evening commute.

"When I drive home to Boston at 5:30 p.m., I expected clear sailing," said Walter Drag, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Taunton. "Tomorrow will be the slow commute, especially from the north and west. People should prepare for frozen door locks and hazardous road conditions."

Sleet is expected to start after midnight along with northeast winds gusting up to 20 miles per hour. The mucky weather will continue throughout Thursday as 1 to 4 inches of sleet and snow accumulate across the state, Drag said.

Boston should only receive about an inch of snow, with higher totals west and north of the city. The heaviest snow is predicted near the border with New Hampshire, where 3 to 6 inches are expected to fall.

A winter weather advisory goes into effect at 6 p.m. for southwest and central Massachusetts and central Middlesex County. A winter storm warning has been issued for south and central New Hampshire.

The freezing drizzle is expected to persist Friday, when highs will be in the upper 30s. Over the weekend, there is a chance of snow Saturday and Sunday.