Only a few days after a winter storm swept through Massachusetts on Super Bowl Sunday, the state will once again be covered by a few inches of snow.
According to the National Weather Service, a rapid period of accumulating snow will fall on Tuesday.
In terms of timing, winter rainfall began early in the morning in the Berkshires and is expected to start at 08:00 in the Springfield area, 09:00 in Worcester County, 10:00 in Eastern Massachusetts and 12 hours at the Cape.
The weather service has issued a winter storm warning for the Pioneer Valley, Central Massachusetts, the Merrimack Valley and the North Coast, where as much as 6 to 8 inches of heavy snow is expected.
For much of the rest of the state – including the Berkshires, Greater Boston, and nearly all of southeastern Massachusetts – winter weather advice has been issued. Forecasters warn of closer to 4 to 6 inches of snow in these areas.
Travel can be very difficult. The dangerous conditions can affect the morning or evening commute. “The worst conditions are expected with the evening shuttle,” the weather service said. “If you have to travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of emergency.”
About 4 to 6 inches of snow is forecast in most of the Greater Boston area, though the total will vary near the New Hampshire state line and in southeast Massachusetts.
Near Lawrence and Newburyport up to 8 inches are forecast. Near Foxborough and Plymouth, 3 to 4 inches are expected. At the Cape and the islands, a centimeter to 4 inches is expected.
In Central Massachusetts, 4 to 6 inches south of Worcester is expected, while communities north of the Massachusetts Turnpike can expect 6 to 8 inches.
In the Pioneer Valley, up to 6 inches is forecast for Springfield, while much of Franklin and Hampshire County is expected to see up to 8 inches.
In the Berkshires, 4 to 6 centimeters are expected in a large part of the province, while the community bags can be up to 8 centimeters.
Snow can sometimes fall to an inch per hour, which can lead to less visibility on the roads by mid-afternoon. According to the weather service, the precipitation should become moderate to heavy during the afternoon for a short time before decreasing by night.
Colder than normal temperatures will continue at least until late in the week or early weekend. Dryer weather is expected on Wednesday and Thursday. It may not take too long because Massachusetts could see the effects of two ocean storms that are expected to wash through the area Friday through Saturday and Saturday through Sunday, meteorologists said.
However, the storms’ storms are subject to significant volatility for so many days, and the forecast is likely to change.