Massachusetts could see as much as 3 inches of snowfall on Monday as a frigid start to the new year continues.
The snow is expected to begin on Monday afternoon, around 1 p.m., and continue until about 8 p.m., though National Weather Service forecasters say the precipitation could end as freezing rain for some parts of the Bay State.
“Will need to consider Winter Weather Advisories for this freezing rain later today,“ forecasters wrote. ”However, there is not enough confidence yet that freezing rain will develop.”
Forecasters expect most parts of the state to see between 1 and 2 inches of snow on Monday, with the Berkshires seeing slightly higher accumulations around 2 to 3 inches. Areas south of the Massachusetts Turnpike, on the other hand, are expected to top out around an inch.
The snow should move west to east before tapering off around midnight.
The next chance for precipitation comes Tuesday night into Wednesday as a shortwave moves east from the Great Lakes. As the shortwave and an associated area of low pressure move in, warmer and wetter air is expected to make its way into the region.
Temperatures should rise above freezing across much of the state when the warmer air moves through, though the higher elevations of the Berkshires and Worcester Hills may still stay below 32.
Those warmer temperatures mean any precipitation that does fall is likely to fall as just rain. In the areas where temperatures remain below freezing, some ice could form, forecasters warned.
Temperatures continue to rise heading into Wednesday morning, with the precipitation switching to rain across the region by mid-morning before clearing out by the afternoon.
Conditions should dry out on Thursday before another strong shortwave moves east, bringing with it another area of low pressure. Temperatures could rocket up to the 50s behind a warm front on Friday.
“A rain event for southern New England for the end of the week is what’s favored at this time, but uncertainty remains regarding exact timing, possible amounts, and track with this system,” forecasters wrote.
