Forecasters warn of possible black ice during Tuesday afternoon commute

By Melissa M. Werthmann and Sarah N. Mattero, Globe Correspondents

Drivers should proceed cautiously during the evening commute Tuesday, as black ice may appear in some areas after a light snowfall dusts the region, the National Weather Service warns.

Those who live on the south coast and the Cape and islands, particularly, may have a slippery ride home, said National Weather Service meteorologist Benjamin Sipprell.

“It will be a minor issue but still a risk during the evening commute,” Sipprell said of the black ice. “If anything, the roads will stay wet, so hydroplaning is also a concern.”

Up to an inch is expected in those areas, and flakes could start drifting down during the late morning or early afternoon Tuesday. They may continue on and off throughout the rest of the day and into the overnight hours, meteorologist Stephanie Dunten said.

Daytime highs in the region are expected to reach the high 30s to mid-40s Tuesday through Thursday, with the warmer air along the coast. The mercury is expected to drop slightly on Friday before a warmup on the weekend.

Nighttime lows are expected to be in the 20s and 30s, with the coldest night Thursday, when temperatures will drop to the teens in the interior and barely reach 30 along the coast, according to the weather service website.

Melissa Werthmann can be reached at melissa.werthmann@globe.com. Sarah N. Mattero can be reached at sarah.mattero@globe.com.