The first widespread snowstorm of the season is bearing down on Massachusetts as of Tuesday morning.
A winter storm warning has been issued for nearly all of Western and Central Massachusetts, including the northern parts of Worcester and Middlesex Counties and towns in eastern Franklin County.
Those areas of the state may receive between 6 and 9 inches of heavy snow, according to the National Weather Service, with some localized higher amounts.
Other parts of the state under a winter weather advisory — which includes Springfield, parts of Worcester near the border with Connecticut and areas on the North Shore like Lawrence — could receive between 2 and 4 inches.
But the rest of Eastern Massachusetts, including Boston and Cape Cod & the Islands, will receive rain for most of the day. There is a chance the snow may return in the afternoon.
The snow is now projected to begin by mid-morning to early afternoon on Tuesday, given temperatures’ warmth, and will continue through the evening commute overnight.
The heaviest parts of the storm are on track to hit areas in Western and Central Massachusetts, with some parts seeing snowfall rates at 1 inch per hour at times.
Rainfall totals for Eastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod & the Islands could near 2 inches after Tuesday’s storm, forecasters say, while some light snow accumulations could be possible.
Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing overnight as the storm moves northeast, with lows in the teens across Western Massachusetts and hanging in the 20s and 30s in other parts of the state.
