Heavy Rain Continues Until Early This Evening Across Western & Central Mass

Heavy rain is now moving into the region at the time of this writing.

Temperatures across the region range from the mid 30s south of the Mass Pike to near 32 Degrees across many areas that are north of the Mass Pike. This means that icing continues to accumulate on trees and wires across many areas of the Worcester Hills as well as across the hills that surround the Connecticut River Valley, while all roads are wet, but ice free. This icing on trees and wires has led to some reports of downed wires with scattered power outages being reported in some towns in the Worcester Hills.

Heavy rain is expected to continue for the next several hours before lightening up in intensity by about 7-8 pm or so.

This heavy rain will lead to extensive ponding of water on roads and poor drainage and urban flood issues. Also, additional icing on trees and wires is likely in the Worcester Hills, especially the northern Worcester Hills and in the hilltowns that surround the Connecticut River Valley. This additional icing could lead to more downed wires and trees leading to additional power outage issues.

As the rain moves out this evening, colder air looks to push into the region leading to a change from rain to sleet and snow across areas that are north of the Mass Pike. This changeover to sleet and snow looks to occur first across Western Mass by about 8 pm and then across Central Mass during the 8-9 pm time frame or so. The snow and sleet that falls will be brief and will end by 10-11 pm and any accumulations will amount to a dusting to perhaps one inch or so.

10 pm Friday Evening Weather Update For Western & Central Mass

Quick update to let you know that light snow has begun across the area. This is much earlier than previously expected and this is a huge surprise. The reason why is because the atmosphere is currently very dry with dew point temperatures of between zero and 10 Degrees. Usually we need the difference between temperature and dew point temperature to be much closer to together for it to snow. Anyways, snow is now expected to occur for the next several hours and will accumulate on all surfaces of around one inch. There is the possibility that areas north of the Mass Pike will see up to 2 inches of snow accumulation over the next few hours. This snow will change to freezing rain and sleet probably by about 2-3 am or so with freezing rain and sleet continuing until about 8-10 am or so Saturday morning when it’ll change to all rain. Given the earlier start of the precipitation this evening, it appears that ice amounts of around one tenth of an inch looks likely across the entire area late tonight into Saturday morning. This combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain will lead to slippery roads, slippery parking lots and slippery driveways. Use caution if you are out and about the rest of tonight into the first part of Saturday morning. Heavy rain is still likely throughout Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening and especially between about 3-4 pm and 8-9 pm. Rainfall totals of between 2.50 inches and 3.50 inches looks likely and this will lead to extensive ponding of water on roads along with urban and poor drainage flooding. In addition, some stream and brook flooding looks quite possible.

Heavy Rain With Rainfall Amounts Of 2 To 3 Inches Are Expected Saturday Afternoon Into Saturday Evening Across Western & Central Mass

For Tonight Into Saturday Morning: Clouds will be on the increase this evening out ahead of a strong low pressure system that will affect our weather over the next 36 hours.

Precipitation in the form of snow, sleet and freezing rain will overspread Western Mass by about 3-5 am Saturday morning and then overspread Central Mass by about 5-7 am Saturday morning.

This mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain will change to rain across areas south of the Mass Pike by about 8 am Saturday morning. For areas near and especially north of the Mass Pike, the wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will persist through mid-morning before changing to rain by about the 10-11 am time frame.

Snow amounts late tonight into early Saturday morning should be a slushy dusting north of the Mass Pike with nothing near and south of the Mass Pike. Ice amounts of five hundredths to one tenth of an inch looks likely across areas north of the Mass Pike with little or no ice accumulations expected near and south of the Mass Pike.

Temperatures this evening will fall to between 25 and 30 Degrees, but will rise into the low 30s by sunrise Saturday morning. Temperatures are then expected to rise to near 35 Degrees by late Saturday morning.

Winds tonight will be South at 10 to 20 mph. Winds Saturday morning will be South to Southeast at 10 to 20 mph.

For Saturday Afternoon & Saturday Night: Heavy rain looks very likely throughout Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening across the entire area.

Latest information seems to point towards rainfall totals of 2 to 3 inches are expected during Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening with locally higher amounts possible. This will lead to extensive ponding of water on roads along with urban and poor drainage flooding. Additionally, some stream and brook flooding is quite possible.

The heaviest intensity of rain looks to occur between about 2-3 pm Saturday afternoon and about 9-10 pm Saturday evening.

As we head towards midnight Saturday night, it’s possible that the rain may change to a very brief period of snow before it ends just after midnight. This brief period of snow looks to occur from about 11 pm until about 1 am. Any snow amounts may amount to a dusting for most of the area. The exception looks to be across the northern Worcester Hills where about one inch of snow accumulation could occur.

Once the precipitation ends just after midnight Saturday night, skies will become clear towards morning.

Temperatures Saturday afternoon will be between 40 and 45 Degrees. Low temperatures late Saturday night will be near 25 Degrees.

Winds Saturday afternoon will be East to Southeast at 10 to 20 mph. Winds Saturday night will be North at 10 to 20 mph.

Sunday: A partly sunny and windy day is expected on Sunday with high temperatures near 40 Degrees. Winds will be North to Northwest at 15 to 25 mph.