Boston, Massachusetts – Slippery roads are already developing north and west of I-95, and the Wednesday morning commute could slow to a crawl as snow transitions to sleet and freezing rain before sunrise.
According to the National Weather Service in Boston, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect through 7 a.m. Wednesday for interior southern New England. Areas away from the immediate South Coast and Cape Cod can expect up to 2 inches of snow, mainly on grassy surfaces, along with ice accumulations approaching two-tenths of an inch in colder pockets.
The greatest travel impacts will focus along I-90 west of Boston, Route 2 through Fitchburg, and I-495 from Lowell to Franklin, where surface temperatures remain near or below freezing. Even a thin glaze of ice can create spinouts on untreated ramps and overpasses. Sleet mixing in overnight will add to the slushy buildup before precipitation gradually changes to plain rain closer to the I-95 corridor and coastal Rhode Island.
Communities including Worcester, Framingham and Lawrence may see the iciest stretch between midnight and 6 a.m. Wednesday. Road crews are treating major highways, but secondary roads and neighborhood streets could remain slick through the early commute.
Drivers should reduce speed, allow extra braking distance and avoid sudden lane changes. Pedestrians should also watch for icy sidewalks and parking lots.
Conditions improve from southeast to northwest after daybreak as temperatures slowly rise above freezing. Additional advisories could be issued if colder air lingers longer than expected into Wednesday morning.
