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Up to eight inches of snow expected in parts of Mass.

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February 11, 2012|By Alli Knothe and Martin Finucane

This map, issued by the National Weather Service office in Taunton, shows…

Winter’s back. Forecasters are predicting 2 to 4 inches of snow in much of Eastern and Central Massachusetts on Saturday, with a chance that some areas will get more -- up to 8 inches.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for Eastern Massachusetts, effective from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, warning of slippery roads and exit ramps, and reduced visibilities.

A light dusting of snow is expected to fall overnight, then the pace will pick up. The heaviest snow is expected to fall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

A snow total forecast map issued by the service’s Taunton office showed 2 to 4 inches falling in much of Eastern and Central Massachusetts, with smaller amounts in the far western and northern sections of the state. The map indicated 4 to 6 inches could fall in parts of Southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod.

Forecasters said 8 inches might even fall in the area from Fall River to New Bedford to Plymouth and the upper Cape and Buzzards Bay areas.

Exactly how much snow will fall “remains a tricky question,” a weather service forecast discussion said.

Light snow may linger Saturday evening before ending across Eastern Massachusetts and the Cape and islands.

Saturday night through Sunday night will see a brief “glancing shot” of cold conditions, forecasters said. The coldest air will arrive Sunday and Sunday night. But both Saturday and Sunday night will see subzero wind chills in higher elevations in the state’s interior, forecasters said.

A warmup is expected next week. Temperatures will rise above normal after Monday, and no signficant storms are in sight for the rest of the week.