The National Weather Service’s Boston/Norton office has issued a winter storm watch for portions of central, eastern, northeastern, and western Massachusetts, as well as northern Connecticut, from 1 p.m. Saturday, February 15, through 7 p.m. Sunday, February 16. The storm is forecasted to bring a mix of heavy precipitation, with about 4 to 7 inches of snow and sleet, along with ice accumulations ranging from a light glaze to a few tenths of an inch.
The advisory covers cities and towns across Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, Hampshire, and Hampden counties, including Fitchburg, Worcester, Springfield, Northampton, Amherst, Lowell, Ayer, Framingham, Milford, Barre, and Greenfield.
Snow is expected to begin Saturday afternoon and become heavier overnight. By Sunday, it will shift to a mix of sleet, freezing rain, and rain.
“Travel could be very difficult,” the National Weather Service cautioned.
In addition to the winter storm watch, a wind advisory remains in effect until 4 p.m. Friday, February 14, for much of the region, including areas near and northwest of I-95. Winds are expected to range from 15 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 50 to 55 mph in higher elevations. Strong winds could knock down tree limbs, cause scattered power outages, and make travel hazardous, especially for high-profile vehicles.
