(WHDH) — A winter storm warning has been issued for parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire starting Thursday afternoon through Friday morning as the region receives its first widespread snow of the season.
RELATED: Track the approaching snowstorm on interactive radar
Up to six inches of snow is expected to fall in some areas, along with the possibility for ice accumulations and freezing rain, according to the 7Weather team.
Plowable snow is likely outside of Route 128, while cities and towns closer to Interstate 495 will see heavier snowfall.
Snow! Plowable snow outside Rt 128 later this evening. 4-6" for many cities and towns closer to I-495. Coating in the city (bit more Hyde Park & JP) that gets washed away after midnight. #7news pic.twitter.com/ops2Uc5wIQ
— Jeremy Reiner (@jreineron7) November 15, 2018
The warning includes Eastern Franklin, Western Franklin, Western Hampshire, Central Middlesex, Eastern Hampden, Eastern Hampshire, Northern Worcester, Northwest Middlesex, Southern Worcester, Western Essex, and Western Hampden counties.
Southern New Hampshire and points north are also included in the warning.
A winter weather advisory is in effect for the rest of Massachusetts, including the South Shore, South Coast, Metro Boston and points along the North Shore.
RELATED: List of storm closings and delays
Southern NH added to the Winter Storm Warning (as expected) – the area in line for most snow in our viewing area. @JackieLayerOn7 and I break down the storm on @7news at noon. pic.twitter.com/ZVDWsxvQR1
— Josh Wurster (@joshwurster_) November 15, 2018
A high wind warning has been issued for Cape Cod and the Islands with possible gusts of up to 50-60 mph. The warning starts at midnight and will last into early Friday.
1:30PM: For the Cape & Islands, a *High Wind Warning* has been issued for wind gusts up to 50-60 mph, starting midnight and continuing into early Friday AM. This may blow down limbs, a few trees, and could cause pockets of power outages. #7news pic.twitter.com/OitTfod5M7
— Jackie Layer (@WeatherJackie) November 15, 2018
The storm is scheduled to arrive at the New England south coast between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday before reaching Massachusetts and New Hampshire between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. The heaviest snow is expected between 8 p.m. and 12 a.m.
In the Fitchburg area and points north and south of Worcester, as well as areas out west, 4 to 6 inches could fall. The same is true for southern New Hampshire. Parts of central New Hampshire could see more than six inches.
Areas along the North Shore, South Shore and South Coast will likely see the storm change quickly over to rain. A dusting to four inches of snow is possible, depending upon where the rain-snow line sets up.
The slower changeover will also bring sleet and freezing rain overnight before eventually changing over to rain around midnight, making for a wet Friday morning commute.
Driving conditions are expected to be poor between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The storm will start to clear out by 11 a.m.
For more information, check out the 7Weather page here.
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