MA Weather: Icy Storm Will Make For Treacherous Travel

BOSTON — The forecast for a sloppy winter storm is becoming even messier as it approaches Thursday.

First is the rain, starting in the late morning and intensifying through the afternoon and evening. Cold air will begin moving south from New Hampshire overnight, turning the rain into a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain down to Boston.

The sleet will last deep into Friday, eventually transitioning to light snow as precipitation dries up in the evening.

The short of it is: This is going to be a slog of rain, freezing rain and sleet Thursday and Friday. It won't have anything resembling the wind and snow of last week's blizzard, but it's nothing you'll want to be outside in.

"The storm is a marathon, not a sprint," AccuWeather meteorologist Justin Povick said.

And it'll be a terror on the roads, particularly those along and north of the Mass. Pike. The National Weather Service is calling a winter weather advisory for most of the state, warning of slick, hazardous driving conditions as temperatures drop into a flash freeze.

There will be a winter storm warning north and west of Worcester as 1-4 inches of snow is expected, along with the other conditions.

Forecast via NWS

BOSTON

Today — Rain likely, mainly between 3pm and 5pm. Cloudy, with a high near 44. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tonight — Rain. Low around 30. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 8 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday — Freezing rain before 9am, then freezing rain and sleet between 9am and 10am, then sleet after 10am. Temperature falling to around 21 by 4pm. North wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Friday Night — A chance of snow and sleet before 7pm, then a chance of snow between 7pm and 11pm. Cloudy, with a low around 15. North wind 6 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected.

Saturday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 24. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph.

Saturday Night — Mostly clear, with a low around 5. Northwest wind 3 to 8 mph.

Sunday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 29. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. Light and variable wind.

WORCESTER

Today — Rain. High near 43. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tonight — Rain. Low around 31. Light and variable wind becoming north 5 to 9 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday — Freezing rain and sleet before 10am, then sleet between 10am and 5pm, then sleet likely, possibly mixed with snow after 5pm. Temperature falling to around 21 by 4pm. North wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday Night — A chance of snow, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 13. North wind 3 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Saturday — Sunny, with a high near 23. Northwest wind 8 to 14 mph.

Saturday Night — Mostly clear, with a low around 3. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Sunday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 28. Calm wind becoming south around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 14. Light and variable wind.