Sleet and Snow to Create Slippery Commute in Massachusetts

Wintry mix expected to impact travel Thursday evening through Friday morning

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain is expected to move into Massachusetts on Thursday evening, creating slippery road conditions for the evening and overnight commute. The farther north you go, the more snow and sleet you'll see, with the potential for up to 4 inches of accumulation. Meanwhile, southeastern Massachusetts will see mainly rain, but with about an inch of liquid equivalent precipitation. Higher elevations could also see a quarter-inch or more of ice accumulation, raising the risk of power outages.

Why it matters

The combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain can make for extremely hazardous driving conditions, increasing the risk of accidents and disrupting travel. This weather event comes at a busy time, potentially impacting both the evening and morning commutes for many residents across the state.

The details

The wintry mix is expected to develop Thursday evening and continue through Friday morning. Areas north of the Massachusetts Turnpike are forecast to see the most snow and sleet, with accumulations of 2 to 4 inches. Closer to Boston and south of the Pike, a coating to 2 inches of the wintry mix is expected, with mainly rain in southeastern parts of the state. However, the precipitation could bring up to an inch of liquid equivalent, leading to icy conditions. Higher elevations, such as the Worcester Hills and Berkshires, could see more than a quarter-inch of ice accumulation, which raises the risk of power outages due to downed trees and power lines.

  • The wintry mix is expected to develop Thursday evening and continue through Friday morning.
  • The highest snow and sleet accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are forecast for areas north of the Massachusetts Turnpike.

The players

Cindy Fitzgibbon

A meteorologist who reported on the upcoming winter weather event for WCVB.com.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is about close to an inch of liquid equivalent. So there's going to be a lot of water coming on in. And what falls as freezing rain could be more significant with higher elevations.”

— Cindy Fitzgibbon, Meteorologist (WCVB.com)

What’s next

The National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisories for much of Massachusetts, warning drivers to be prepared for slippery road conditions during the evening and overnight hours.

The takeaway

This winter weather event highlights the importance of being prepared for rapidly changing and potentially hazardous driving conditions, especially for those commuting during the evening and overnight hours. Residents should monitor weather forecasts and heed any advisories or warnings issued by local authorities.