Boston, Massachusetts – Slick highways and strong wind gusts could disrupt travel across Massachusetts beginning Thursday, Feb. 26, as a wetter late-winter pattern increases the risk of freezing rain and coastal wind impacts through Monday, March 2.
According to NOAA’s 6- to 10-day outlook issued Friday, above-normal precipitation is favored across New England during the Thursday-to-Monday stretch. With temperatures expected to hover near seasonal averages, even minor drops below 32 degrees may allow freezing rain to develop during overnight and early morning hours.
Statewide impacts may center along the I-90 Massachusetts Turnpike corridor from Boston through Worcester and into Springfield, where bridges and elevated ramps freeze first. In Boston, overpasses near the Zakim Bridge and stretches along Storrow Drive could turn slick if light ice accumulates. Worcester and the higher terrain of central Massachusetts face an elevated icing risk if colder air lingers.
Wind also becomes a concern late in the period. Gusts between 40 and 50 mph are possible along the South Shore, Cape Cod, and the Islands, including Hyannis and Nantucket. Strong winds combined with wet ground could bring down tree limbs and cause scattered power outages.
Residents should secure outdoor furniture, charge devices, and allow extra time for travel during peak icing windows. The unsettled pattern continues through March 2, and additional advisories may be issued as this late-winter system evolves across the Commonwealth.
