Weather Forecast Snow Storm to Bring Messy Commutes Across New England

A winter setup with a mix of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain is expected as a weather forecast snow storm pushes into New England on Thursday afternoon ET, running into the early hours of Friday ET. Winter weather advisories are in place for accumulating snow and sleet beginning Thursday evening ET, creating the potential for a difficult evening commute.

Weather Forecast Snow Storm Timing

The system will arrive after a dry start on Thursday ET and begin to affect parts of the region by late morning ET. Precipitation can begin falling by late morning ET across areas like Worcester, Providence, western Massachusetts and Connecticut, though that morning commute should remain dry. A wintry mix of snowflakes, sleet and freezing rain is expected to push into Greater Boston by mid to late afternoon ET and persist into the evening and overnight hours ET, lasting into the start of Friday ET.

Expected precipitation and snowfall

Forecast guidance points to a period of mixed precipitation rather than an intense single form. Rain totals are expected to range roughly from a half inch to about an inch by Friday morning ET. Snow accumulations are expected to vary by location: a coating to about 2 inches is likely along the Mass Pike and northward, while northern New England locations are likely to see about 2 to 4 inches. There is also the potential for a similar 2–4 inch band in the northeast corner of the state and just north of Route 2. Across southern New England, widespread sleet and patchy ice are expected Thursday evening into early Friday, producing slippery surfaces away from the immediate coast.

What to expect for commutes and impacts

Temperatures will play a strong role in how this system impacts travel. Expect Thursday morning ET commutes in the upper 20s under increasing clouds, with daytime highs generally in the low 40s for much of the region and upper 30s near Boston and the immediate coast. The combination of warmer daytime readings and near- or subfreezing temperatures after sunset sets up the classic late-winter flip between rain and freezing precipitation. If precipitation changes to sleet and freezing rain during the evening rush, road surfaces and bridges could become icy quickly, complicating travel and commute times.

Central and western parts of the state are forecast to see building clouds with highs in the low to mid-40s ET, with cold rain turning to more snow later in the evening and overnight ET. Along the MA/NH border and into northern New England, a transition to plain snow is more likely overnight ET, with the first accumulating snow arriving early Friday ET north of the Pike.

Forward look and key considerations

Travelers should plan for extra time Thursday evening ET into Friday morning ET. The primary risks are icy roads from freezing rain and sleet across southern New England and accumulating snow across the northern tier. Utility impacts are possible where ice accumulates on limbs and powerlines, particularly in higher-elevation areas. If the wintry mix persists through the evening rush, expect widespread slippery conditions; if the changeover to plain snow occurs earlier and temperatures remain colder, snow accumulations will be the dominant hazard.

Key takeaways:

• Wintry mix arrives mid to late afternoon Thursday ET and lasts into early Friday ET.
• Snow: coating to 2" along and north of the Mass Pike; 2–4" in northern New England (approx. ).
• Rain: roughly 0. 5"–1" expected by Friday morning ET; patchy ice and sleet likely in southern areas.