The weekend is about to start with some ice that could make roads dangerous to travel in Massachusetts.
Before that happens, calm weather conditions are expected on Friday, according to the National Weather Service. Mostly clear skies should be followed by clouds moving east from New York, making their advance in the late morning to early afternoon.
Temperatures are expected to reach between 30 degrees and 40 degrees.
As Friday afternoon progresses, clouds should begin to increase, with a frontal system, forecasters said. This system should begin raining between 4am and 6am in western New England, and between 5am and 8am in central and eastern southern New England.
“The types of precipitation will be rain or freezing rain, depending on the surface temperature, without intermediaries,” forecasters said. “The greatest risk of light ice accretions is inland in southern New England, north and west of Interstate 95. Freezing rain. should gradually change to light rain from south to north as temperatures slowly warm above freezing.”
Forecasters predict this upcoming storm will be “a really light event” in terms of precipitation. Rainfall accumulations could reach 1-tenth of an inch, with a maximum of 2-tenths of an inch. Temperatures should be cold enough to cause sleet and freezing rain. The effects of the rain could also affect the journeys of those returning home from the holidays.
With those odds, forecasters have issued a winter weather advisory that is expected to be in effect between 4am and 1pm on Saturday. The advisory covers west and east Franklin, west and east Hampshire, north Middlesex, west Hampden and north and south Worcester counties.
“Very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges are possible, which could result in hazardous travel conditions,” the advisory said.
Forecasters advised travelers to slow down and use caution.
Then, late in the day, precipitation should move offshore. A warm front is expected to follow, dropping lows Saturday night in the mid-30s to near 40 degrees.
Lighter rainfall is expected on Sunday and will continue into Monday morning. Temperatures should remain high, with a dry and warm lull from Tuesday’s rain expected to see temperatures in the 40s to 50s.
Another storm is expected to arrive Wednesday, bringing about half an inch of rain, with no chance of snow, but some chance of freezing rain returning. The arrival of another cold front should drop temperatures again on Thursday, when conditions are expected to be cool and dry.