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.