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[February 4, 2022 | 9:30 AM] Icey Road Conditions Today, Travel Impacts – MEMA Situational Report #2

 

Situation

Massachusetts is experiencing a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain across that will result in hazardous travel conditions during both the morning and evening commutes today. Rain is transitioning to a period of freezing rain this morning, spreading southeastward during the morning commute and lasting several hours before changing to sleet. Sleet will continue to fall through the afternoon and may change briefly to snow before tapering off by early this evening. A flash freeze is expected as temperatures drop sharply Friday afternoon into Saturday morning. Freezing temperatures will persist through the weekend.

The bulk of snow/ sleet accumulation will be mainly north of the Mass Pike, especially along and north of Route 2. A widespread 1-2” of accumulation is expected in this area, but locally higher amounts of heavier/wetter snowfall are possible in far northern Berkshire and northwestern Franklin Counties. Up to 1” of sleet is expected south of the Mass Pike.

A general ice accretion of up to 0.1” is expected across much of the state, with lesser amounts across southeastern MA and the Cape and Islands. Up to 0.25” of ice accretion is possible across higher elevations in western Massachusetts.

Impacts/ Potential Impacts

  • Hazardous travel conditions during the morning commute, mainly along and north of the Mass Pike, and during the Friday afternoon commute, especially in eastern Massachusetts.
  • Overnight rainfall has washed away road pre-treatments prior to changeover to sleet/freezing rain.
  • Wet/untreated surfaces are likely to freeze as the temperature drops this afternoon. This may result in continued hazardous travel conditions overnight.

Weather Forecast Overview

Advisories, Watches and Warnings

 

Last updated: 05:20 EST on 02-04-2022

Winter Storm WarningIssued: February 04 at 5:20AM ESTExpiring: February 04 at 5:00PM EST

Urgency: ExpectedStatus: Actual

Areas affected:Northern Berkshire
Winter Weather AdvisoryIssued: February 04 at 5:20AM ESTExpiring: February 04 at 5:00PM EST

Urgency: ExpectedStatus: Actual

Areas affected:Southern Berkshire
Winter Storm WarningIssued: February 04 at 3:41AM ESTExpiring: February 04 at 7:00PM EST

Urgency: ExpectedStatus: Actual

Areas affected:Eastern Franklin; Northern Worcester; Northwest Middlesex County; Western Franklin; Western Hampshire
Winter Weather AdvisoryIssued: February 04 at 3:41AM ESTExpiring: February 04 at 7:00PM EST

Urgency: ExpectedStatus: Actual

Areas affected:Central Middlesex County; Eastern Essex; Eastern Hampden; Eastern Hampshire; Eastern Norfolk; Southeast Middlesex; Southern Worcester; Suffolk; Western Essex; Western Hampden; Western Norfolk
Winter Weather AdvisoryIssued: February 04 at 3:41AM ESTExpiring: February 04 at 7:00PM EST

Urgency: ExpectedStatus: Actual

Areas affected:Eastern Plymouth; Northern Bristol; Western Plymouth
Winter Weather AdvisoryIssued: February 04 at 3:41AM ESTExpiring: February 04 at 7:00PM EST

Urgency: ExpectedStatus: Actual

Areas affected:Barnstable; Southern Bristol; Southern Plymouth

Preparedness and Safety Information

Stay Informed

For additional information and updated forecasts, see www.weather.gov/boston (National Weather Service Norton) and www.weather.gov/albany (National Weather Service Albany)

 

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Online Resources

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency www.mass.gov/mema  MEMA’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/MassachusettsEMA  MEMA Twitter @MassEMA  Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov  National Weather Service Boston/ Norton, MA  www.weather.gov/boston  National Weather Service/Albany, NY www.weather.gov/albany  National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov

National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center  www.spc.noaa.gov Northeast River Forecast Center www.weather.gov/nerfc/

National Hurricane Center www.nhc.noaa.gov

Mass211 www.mass211.org