Snow, Ice, Flooding, Heavy Rain: MA In For Mixed Bag During Saturday Storm

MASSACHUSETTS — The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory and flood watch, with a mixed-bag storm set to hit Massachusetts starting late Friday.

The flood watch covers the entire state from Worcester east, while a winter weather advisory predicting ice and snow accumulations covers all parts of the state north and west of Worcester, including northern Worcester and Middlesex counties.

"While today is quiet, our weather is expected to become active overnight into Saturday. We anticipate heavy rain, totals of 2 to 3 inches, and locally higher amounts possible. This may lead to localized poor drainage/urban flooding, as well as river flooding," the weather service said in a tweet Friday.

The storm could begin as a mix of rain, ice and snow in eastern Massachusetts, creating treacherous travel conditions by Saturday morning. Heavy rain will continue throughout the day Saturday. The flood watch ends Saturday at 8 p.m.

"The heaviest rain will occur Saturday afternoon and evening which may lead to urban and poor drainage street flooding as well as sharp rises on rivers and streams. Some river flooding is possible," the flood watch said.

Although the storm will mostly bring rain to Massachusetts, northern New England could see a foot or more of snow in places like Burlington, Vt., the White Mountains and interior Maine.

Saturday's storm will give way to a mostly clear day on Sunday, with highs in the low 40s across eastern Massachusetts. That pattern will hold until later next week, when temperatures could rise into the low 50s by Thursday, according to forecasts.