Early morning holiday travel could be difficult Saturday morning as freezing rain and snow is expected to pass through the area, according to the National Weather Service in Taunton.
A winter weather advisory is scheduled from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden counties which include Greenfield, Amherst and Northampton.
“Any kind of freezing rain could cause really slippery roadways, especially on untreated roadways,” meteorologist Eleanor Vallier-Talbot said. “Especially on secondary roadways, walkways, people outside walking – watch out.”
Freezing rain and snow is expected to develop after 2 a.m. to 3 a.m., according to Vallier-Talbot.
Vallier-Talbot said as the day goes on, warmer winds will start to kick-in out of the south.
“We are expecting some milder temperatures around 9 to 10 a.m.,” she said.
Temperatures should get close to freezing around midday, according to Vallier-Talbot.
Around mid-afternoon, the precipitation will taper off and milder temperatures are expected to arrive.
Christmas Day, Vallier-Talbot said, looks like a dry day with high temperatures in the mid-to-upper 30s.
Vallier-Talbot said with a few clouds hanging around, it should be a really nice Christmas Day.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com