Massachusetts residents preparing for Thanksgiving on November 23 are faced with potential travel disruptions due to forecasted snowfall, which will later change to rain and strong gusts. The National Weather Service has communicated that snow will begin to fall in interior Massachusetts today, predominantly in western Franklin and western Hampshire counties—locations currently placed under a winter weather advisory. These circumstances may lead to dangerous travel conditions for early-week visits, as reported by MassLive.
Western Massachusetts is forecasted to receive between 1 and 4 inches of snow currently, starting somewhere between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m tonight. Meanwhile, Eastern Massachusetts will see subsequent snowfall, scheduled between 10 p.m. and midnight. Snow is expected to transition to rain by 6 a.m. tomorrow, with a short spell of freezing rain. A high-pressure system moving eastward over New England will increase cloud cover, according to NBC Boston, but is expected to keep conditions mainly dry.
A low-pressure complex formed in southern New England could create a complex weather situation tomorrow, which will impact not only Massachusetts, but also neighboring states. This storm in development is driven by a strong northern jet stream disturbance from the Great Lakes, and a secondary low forming over the Mid-Atlantic region. These combined factors promote heavy rains and strong winds along the coastal areas.
Later today snow and heavy rain are scheduled to impact higher elevations like the Berkshires and Worcester Hills, followed by rain in coastal zones. The disruptions are expected to commence from dinnertime along the New York State line, midnight on the eastern coast, and even later in Maine.
Given these conditions, residents, particularly those in western Franklin and western Hampshire counties, are advised to anticipate difficult travel conditions on their morning commute tomorrow. Those planning to travel early for Thanksgiving should exercise caution and consider alternate routes.
Wind, in addition to rain and snow, may disrupt travel. MassLive highlights a potential for wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour across the Cape and Islands, leading to a wind advisory for Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow. The National Weather Service warns that the strongest gusts may occur between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.
