Snow And Rain In Forecast For Thursday Commute
BOSTON (CBS) - What once looked like an all rain event for many has suddenly become a bit more interesting.
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A potent little storm system is gaining strength right now in Texas and drawing in moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
This storm has a bead on southern New England and will be arriving after midnight Wednesday night.
What has changed in the last few days is the forecast for Wednesday.
Some sneaky cold air is going to work in during the day on Wednesday and highs will only top out in the 30's.
This cold air will make Thursday morning's forecast a bit more difficult and will mean some snow accumulation in parts of New England.
TIMELINE
The precipitation arrives just after midnight, Wednesday night, likely as snow everywhere north of the Mass Pike.
Areas south of the Pike could start as a brief mix, but are destined for an all rain event.
The rain snow line will make steady progress northward through Thursday morning.
During the main portion of the commute (7-9 a.m.) snow will have already changed to rain in Boston and will be transistioning to rain in all of the nearby suburbs.
A wintry mix will hold on longer in the elevated areas of northern Worcester County, southwest New Hampshire and in the Berkshires and it is in these locations where we expect the worst travel and greatest snow accumulation.
The precip will taper off around midday on Thursday as light rain just about everywhere in southern New England.
AMOUNTS
Accumulations will be light in and around Boston and also will be washed away rather quickly.
A coating to an inch is possible in the pre-dawn hours of Thursday morning in Boston and along the Mass Pike, but it will be washed away within an hour or two with a quick change to rain.
North and west of Boston, around 495 and Route 2, as much as an inch or two could accumulate before the change to rain.
The highest amounts in Southern New England will be in the Worcester Hills, Monadonocks and Berkshires.
We expect 1-3 inches in lower elevations in the Worcester Hills and 3-6 inches in much of SW New Hampshire and in the Berkshires.
Farther north in central and northern New England is where the "jackpot" of snow will occur, good news for ski areas!
Watch Melissa Mack's forecast:
Many spots north of Concord, New Hampshire could receive 6 inches or more of snow with the northern Mountains of New Hampshire and Maine in line for up to a foot!
A nice treat heading into the holiday weekend.
You can follow Terry on Twitter at @TerryWBZ.
