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BOSTON (WBZNewsRadio) - We're waking up to a winter wonderland Friday, as many of us gas up the snow blower, break out the shovel, and salt our front walkways.
Heavy snow began to fall early Friday morning, blanketing the roadways across New England. Crews were out treating the streets as the majority of snowfall is expected between 5 a.m. and 1 p.m., dropping a foot of snow in some parts of the state.
The storm will include a changeover to a wintry mix in some areas, with a drop in temperatures that could create icy conditions later in the day.
It's nothing new this far into February, but heavy snow will make Friday morning's commute treacherous. Governor Charlie Baker urging people to stay off the roads asking all non-emergency state employees to telework if possible.
If you have to go into work, the MBTA is always an option, and trains on both subway lines and the commuter rail are running on regular weekday schedules. Mattapan line service will be suspended, replaced by bus service. Bus lines may have to run on snow routes.
It's school vacation week in Massachusetts, so many schools were already not in session Friday. However classes have been canceled, delayed or switched to remote learning for many colleges and Universities.
Between 5 a.m. and 11 a.m. the heaviest snow will fall all coming in about 6 hours on the front end of the storm. By 11 a.m. the mixing lines will make a far northward push, up to the Massachusetts Turnpike. Snow will change over to sleet and then to rain over Cape Cod and the Islands, with rain getting as far north as Plymouth. From Plymouth northward, it's sleet on the menu.
By Noon the so-called "meat" of the storm is will be over, with 90% of snow accumulation finished. The wind will turn north northerly late in the afternoon, which could change any sleet or rain showers back over to snow, especially south of the Pike.
From 5 p.m. onwards, we could see some scattered snow flurries and showers, but nothing significant.
So how much snow will be falling where you are? The "jackpot zone" from Friday's storm will be just north and west of Boston, where residents can expect 8-12". This area covers central and southern New Hampshire down through a large portion of Middlesex, Essex and Worcester counties.
Cape Ann down to the coast, through Boston until about Plymouth should see anywhere from 4-8". The same snow totals expected for much of Norfolk County and north Plymouth and Bristol counties.
For the South Coast and Upper Cape, only about 2-4” of snow with lots of mixing.
Because the snow will continue to fall through the day, plow drivers will have to keep up with the storm, but they're prepared.
"It's gonna a long storm but I'm ready to go." One plow driver told WBZ's James Rojas
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasNews) reports from Southie.
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