Boston, Massachusetts – Roads across northern Connecticut, northwest Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts could turn slick by midday Friday as snow and freezing rain spread into the region ahead of the evening commute.
According to the National Weather Service in Boston/Norton, a Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect from 10 a.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Saturday. Forecasters expect a coating to 3 inches of snow and sleet, along with up to two-tenths of an inch of ice accumulation in parts of the advisory area.
Communities including Hartford, Windsor Locks and Putnam in Connecticut; Springfield, Worcester and Norwood in Massachusetts; and Smithfield and West Greenwich in Rhode Island face the highest risk of icy roads. Even a thin layer of ice can create hazardous driving conditions on bridges, overpasses and untreated secondary roads. Major corridors such as I-84, I-90 and I-91 may become slippery during peak travel hours Friday evening.
Utility crews are also monitoring the potential for isolated power outages where ice weighs down tree limbs and lines. Officials urge drivers to slow down, increase following distance and avoid unnecessary travel after 3 p.m. Friday.
The advisory remains in effect through early Saturday morning, and additional alerts could be issued if ice accumulation increases overnight.
