From slippery to sloppy: After icy commute, rain is expected

By Melissa M. Werthmann, Globe Correspondent

New Englanders had a dark and gloomy commute this morning, and there is plenty more rain on the way.

There are showers and patchy fog over Boston today and temperatures are near 40, according to the National Weather Service.

Much of the region battled freezing rain this morning, which caused hazardous travel on roads north of the Massachusetts Turnpike, said meterologist Charlie Foley.

Some areas of the state saw pockets of snow, but totals ammounted to less than an inch.

Communities closer to the New Hampshire border, such as Salisbury and western Essex County got close to two inches of snow, he said.

As temperatures rise this morning, the precipitation will change from freezing rain to all-rain, Foley said.

The weather service issued a coastal flood statement because there could be some minor splashover near east-facing beaches this afternoon.

“Tonight we’ll get another good slug of precipitation,” Foley said. “It could be heavy at times.”

A mix of high and low pressure systems is causing the rain, Foley said.

“There is high pressure that’s kind of parked up over northern Maine and low pressure that is moving in from the south,” he said.

The state needs the precipitation because the monthy and yearly rain levels are below normal, Foley said.

For the month of December, Massachusetts is at a defecit of three quarters of an inch, he said.

The state is down close to 10 inches of rain for the year, Foley said.

There will be more rain and fog Tuesday, as well as possible thunderstorms.

Temperatures Tuesday will be in the high 50s.

The wet weather will continue into Wednesday. There will be wind gusts up to 34 miles per hour in the city and temperatures will be in the high 40s.

Thursday will be cloudy with temperatures in the high 40s and showers will likely resume Thursday night.

The chance for showers extends into Friday. Temperatures will be near 50.

The sun will start to peek through the clouds Saturday. The day will be partly sunny and breezy, with a high near 41.