NORTHAMPTON — The last day of March is not supposed to be about snow and sleet, is it?
But that’s exactly what the region is in for Friday and Saturday, making Thursday’s sunny, 50-degree day seem like a distant memory.
The National Weather Service predicts that 3 to 6 inches of snow will fall across much of the state. The service issued a winter storm watch that includes Hampshire County and will be in effect from Friday morning to Saturday afternoon.
Snow should be heaviest from Friday evening to about 2 a.m. Saturday, according to the forecast. The winter storm watch was issued to interior towns north of the Mass Pike, including Northampton, Amherst and Chesterfield.
There is a 100 percent chance of precipitation Friday afternoon, according to the forecast. The snow may mix with or turn into sleet and rain Friday night into Saturday. The weather service predicts around 0.1 inches of ice.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation issued a press release Thursday warning residents to make informed decisions about travel and “don’t crowd the plow.”
“The forecast is calling for snow to begin Friday morning moving west to east across Massachusetts and continue into Saturday,” Highway Administrator Thomas J. Tinlin said. “Although the precipitation may begin as rain or sleet, it is expected to change to snow and become heavier throughout the afternoon hours on Friday, creating potentially hazardous conditions for the afternoon and evening commute. We encourage every traveler to utilize the appropriate resources and monitor conditions, take public transportation if at all possible and allow extra time to reach destinations.”
The city of Easthampton has issued a citywide parking ban from 7 a.m. Friday to noon on Saturday. The town of Granby has also banned all on-street parking beginning at 8 a.m. Friday and lasting through 4 p.m. Saturday.