"The current storm is probably the most challenging one to forecast so far this winter," said Jim Arnold, weather specialist with the Shrewsbury Emergency Agency.
Arnold said that the snow should begin by late Saturday afternoon, with flurries quite possibly earlier.
"It will be a wet and heavy snow, and will continue at varying rates overnight and throughout the day tomorrow," said Arnold. "A bit of rain could mix in at the start but this should change to snow fairly quickly in the northern part of our area, but more slowly to the south and east. There will be a wide difference in accumulations from northwest to southeast across our region and the state."
The higher grounds of the Worcester hills to the north and west of Shrewsbury and Worcester will likely see up to 8 inches. Shrewsbury, he said, should see between 4-6 inches and those depths "will slowly shrink to 3 to 5 inches in the Southborough/Route 495 area and also in the southern portion of the Blackstone Valley."