‘Stay off the roads,’ National Weather Service says of storm to bring snow, sleet and freezing rain to Massachusetts Tuesday

Massachusetts communities along the Vermont and New Hampshire state line are  likely to see the highest snowfall amounts, with up to eight inches expected from North Adams to Newburyport. 

Further south, around four to six inches of snow are expected in Boston, Worcester and Springfield. 

Southeastern Massachusetts is expected to see the lowest snow totals, with one to four inches expected. 

While the storm will start with snowfall, it will transition to sleet and freezing rain Tuesday night into Wednesday morning before ending. 

Ice accumulations will be of concern Wednesday morning, especially during the morning commute. 

Up to a quarter-inch of ice accumulation is expected for much of Central and Western Massachusetts by Wednesday morning. 

The storm is expected to first hit the westernmost portion of Massachusetts around 10 a.m. Tuesday. 

The first flakes are expected in Springfield around 11 a.m., Worcester around noon and Boston at approximately 1 p.m. Tuesday. 

The National Weather Service cautions snow may fall at a rate of one to two inches per hour in the late afternoon to early evening, followed by heavy sleet. 

Sleet will transition to freezing rain overnight. 

“If you can, please stay off the roads,” the National Weather Service said early Tuesday. “This will be a high-impact event w/ slowed commutes, long drive homes, slick roads as moderate to heavy snow / sleet impacts the area.”