"We are looking at a significant winter snow event overnight tonight and throughout much of the day," said Jim Arnold, weather specialist with the Shrewsbury Emergency Management Agency.
According to Arnold, snow will overspread the area by midnight on Monday and become moderate to heavy soon thereafter, falling at a rate of one to two inches per hour. Parts of Massachusetts, he said, could have more than six inches of snow by 7 a.m. on Tuesday, "which will create a treacherous morning commute."
"The snow will be wet and sticky, plastering everything as the storm progresses," said Arnold. "Snow will continue at varying rates throughout much of the day, but will likely mix with some sleet and freezing rain from mid morning to early afternoon, then transition back to all snow before ending Tuesday evening as colder air returns to our area as the storm pulls away."
Areas north of the Mass. Pike and west of route 495 should see mostly frozen precipitation, "and this will be more in the form of snow the farther to the north and west one goes, and also as elevation increases in the hillier towns."
The west and north of the general Shrewsbury and Worcester area should see about 8 to 12 inches of wet, heavy snow and some sleet and freezing rain. As the storm pulls away from the area, skies will clear Tuesday night with the balance of the week looking partly cloudy, blustery and "noticeably colder than normal."
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning from 9 p.m. on Monday through 8 p.m. on Tuesday for Northborough, indicating heavy snow and ice and accumulations of snow between 8 to 12 inches.