Weather

Here’s what local meteorologists are saying about the potential snow this weekend

Forecasters say “all eyes” are on a storm expected to hit overnight Saturday into Sunday.

Boston, Massachusetts - 1/4/2018 - Snow plows sit stage in preparation of a winter storm expected to leave ump to 12 inches of snow in Boston, Massachusetts, January 4, 2018. (Keith Bedford/Globe Staff) Keith Bedford / The Boston Globe, File

By Dialynn Dwyer

You’re going to need your shovel out and ready in Massachusetts for the next three days.

Related Links

Local meteorologists are tracking two weather systems that are expected to bring wintry weather to the region over the weekend.

“One weather system slips past Southern New England Friday, bringing a period of snow changing to rain Thursday night and Friday,” the National Weather Service said Thursday. “All eyes are on a second storm that brings a mix of wintry weather for Saturday night and Sunday.”

Here’s what local forecasters are saying so far about the two storms — and the possibility of snow — headed into the weekend.  

Friday

The National Weather Service is predicting the precipitation will begin as snow and change to rain Thursday night into Friday as part of a quick-moving, low pressure system. While not much snow is forecast, meteorologists are cautioning that the timing could make for a messy commute on Friday morning.

Advertisement:

Snow is expected to transition to rain for much of the “coastal plain” of Massachusetts and Rhode Island before all precipitation tapers off by late Friday morning, early afternoon.

“Currently looking at snow totals of a half inch to an inch for most, with 1 to 2 inches possible in the high terrain of the interior,” the service said Thursday. “Take it slow on the roads Friday morning as untreated surfaces will become slick and hazardous.”

The Friday storm is “not a big deal,” according to meteorologist David Epstein.

“Good time to find a shovel,” he said.

(See six maps forecasting accumulations for Friday here.)

Saturday into Sunday

Shovels and plows are going to be needed for the second storm system of the weekend.

A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for most of Southern New England by the National Weather Service, in effect from Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening, for the approaching “threat of significant snow and ice accumulation.”

“[The] forecast starts with snow everywhere Saturday night, then brings rain into the South Coast by morning,” the service said Thursday. “Rain spreads up to Boston and the North Shore Sunday, also across Rhode Island and much of northern Connecticut. North of that zone will
be a band of sleet/freezing rain across the interior, snow continuing across parts of northwest Massachusetts.”

Advertisement:

The service is predicting areas in Massachusetts could see more than 2 feet of snow, while Boston is forecast to get between 8 and 12 inches of accumulation.

Epstein says to expect between 4 and 8 inches by the time you wake up on Sunday morning, but, after that, how much snow will continue to fall remains uncertain due to some warm air that will be pushing into the region.

“If the warm air reaches Greater Boston, we could measure a few inches of sleet — perhaps as much as 2 to 4 inches — before it all changes back to snow and then ends,” he said.  

Sarah Wroblewski, a WBZ meteorologist, said the precipitation that will fall will likely still be plowable for most of New England.

NBC10 Boston meteorologist Michael Page advised avoiding being on the roads on Sunday.

“If you don’t have to, I wouldn’t,” he said on Twitter. “Morning snow will change over to an icy mix for parts of Southern New England, as it likely stays all snow in the mountains. Overall unpleasant to be traveling about.”

How much snow will fall versus where a wintry mix of sleet will occur remains uncertain, he said.

But regardless of the exact totals, the storm will still result in “nasty travel.”

Advertisement:

The storm will wind down Sunday night, when temperatures are also forecast to drop, according to the weather service.

“The combination of wind and cold air will bring wind chills to single digits and below zero Sunday night and Monday,” service meteorologists said. “It will also raise the possibility of a flash freeze of any remaining wet surfaces.”

The meteorologists — and local authorities — are advising residents to check in for updates in the coming days, given the uncertainty of Sunday system.

(See six maps forecasting accumulations for Sunday here.)