Forecasters issue freezing rain advisory for Central, Western Massachusetts

By Lauren Dezenski and Martin Finucane, Globe Correspondent and Globe Staff

Todd Gutner has the WBZ-TV weather forecast.

The National Weather Service is warning of slick roads because of freezing rain this afternoon through the overnight hours in Central and Western Massachusetts.

The agency’s Taunton office this afternoon issued a freezing rain advisory, effective until 7 a.m. Saturday.

The advisory says that less than a tenth of an inch of ice is expected to accumulate, but conditions could be slippery on untreated roadways.

Widespread showers could impact this evening’s commute east of Interstate 95, too, and the precipitation will stick around through Saturday, clearing out by 9 p.m. Precipitation between one-tenth and one-quarter of an inch is possible.

“This isn’t a nor’easter where you get a big soaking. They’re more nusiance showers,” weather service meteorologist Bill Simpson said.

Sunday will remain mostly cloudy, and temperatures will climb to the mid-50s in Boston.

Warm weather is expected to continue Monday before a cold front moves through the region, potentially dragging temperatures down in the afternoon.

Monday night through Wednesday, the weather will be somewhat chillier but “certainly nothing too cold,” the weather service said in a forecast discussion.

Thursday night into Friday, the region could see a shot of cold Arctic air, resulting in below-normal temperatures.