October Surprise: MA Looking At First Snowfall Friday

It's looking more and more certain that Massachusetts will be getting an October snowfall, with most of the state getting at least an inch or two of accumulation through Friday morning.

A hazardous weather outlook was issued for Massachusetts and Rhode Island as Hurricane Zeta stirs up rain, wind and colder air that will lead to some snow across southern New England.

Thursday will start with rain and turn to snow late. By Friday morning, the best chances of a few inches of snow will be in central and western Massachusetts, according to the National Weather Service. Most communities east of Interstate 95 might not see any accumulation.

"As temperatures slowly drop to near-freezing by daybreak, snowflakes will be flying across Boston-MetroWest/I-95 Corridor," NBC10 Boston Meteorologist Aaron Perry told Patch.

Perry expects 2-3 inches in the Berkshires, 1-2 inches across the Worcester Hills and possibly a coating of up to an inch inside I-495.

Winds will ramp up Thursday night into Friday, with the strongest gusts expected on Cape Cod, where there's a wind advisory.

It's not the earliest snow we've had in Massachusetts, but measurable snow usually doesn't show up until December. Perry expects the snowfall to fall short of records set in 2011, when Boston had 0.6 inches and Worcester had 3.2.

Halloween is expected to be clear but cold, with temperatures hovering above freezing during trick-or-treating times.

Boston-area forecast via National Weather Service

Today - Rain, mainly after 1pm. Patchy fog after 2pm. High near 49. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight - Rain. Patchy fog. Low around 34. North wind 14 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday - Snow before 2pm, then a chance of rain. High near 38. North wind 10 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Friday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Northwest wind around 7 mph.

Saturday - Sunny, with a high near 45. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon.

Saturday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 35. South wind 3 to 5 mph.

Sunday - A chance of showers after 7am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. South wind 7 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday Night - A chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Southwest wind around 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 44. West wind 11 to 15 mph.

Monday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind 11 to 13 mph.

Tuesday - Sunny, with a high near 36. Northwest wind 13 to 15 mph.

Tuesday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 30. Southwest wind around 7 mph.

Wednesday - Sunny, with a high near 54. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.