[Weather] [2019.01.04 AM NWS Briefing] Freezing Rain Late Friday Night into Saturday Morning

[BOX Operations - NOAA Service Account]

Good morning,

We continue to forecast freezing rain late Friday night into Saturday
morning which will make surfaces slick if left untreated leading to
hazardous travel conditions. More details below.

*What / Where / When ... *

   - Freezing rain will begin to overspread northern and western areas of
   Massachusetts and Connecticut, especially along the higher terrain of the
   Berkshires, Litchfield and Worcester Hills, beginning prior to daybreak
   Saturday.
      - Impacts to major travel routes ... along I-91 at and north of
      Springfield, MA and along the Massachusetts Route 2 corridor immediately
      west of Fitchburg, MA.


   - A gradual transition to rain S to N into morning and through the day,
   will see the last remnants of freezing rain along the Berkshires as late as
   7 pm Saturday before any and all precipitation clears out.


   - A glaze of ice up to a tenth of an inch is possible on all surfaces if
   left untreated leading to hazardous travel conditions.


   - Also, Saturday night into Sunday morning, especially north and west of
   the I-95 corridor, any remaining wet surfaces are expected to freeze. If
   left untreated, there is the threat of ice developing along area roadways.

*Uncertainty ... *

   - Surface temperatures are critical with respect to freezing rain and
   ice accretion outcomes. Any measure of ice accretion will make surfaces
   slick.


   - However the greatest uncertainty is the exact timing of freezing rain
   to rain transition as outlined above. As alluded by the prior email, any
   small change can make a big difference in outcomes.


   - A Winter Weather Advisory is possible when confidence in outcomes
   increases.


Respectfully,

Benjamin Sipprell
Meteorologist
NWS Boston / Norton


If you have any questions or would like more information, don't hesitate to
contact us via this email address, on NWSChat <https://nwschat.weather.gov/>,
or at the following:

National Weather Service Boston/Norton, MA
46 Commerce Way
Norton, MA 02766
508.622.3280
Website <http://www.weather.gov/boston> | Facebook
<http://www.facebook.com/NWSBoston> | Twitter
<http://www.twitter.com/NWSBoston>
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