Winter storm threatening snow, icy conditions across Massachusetts
'Snow is expected to begin falling Saturday evening, between 5-8 p.m., moving in from west to east. The snow will continue into early Sunday morning,' the Boston 25 Weather team wrote in their latest weather blog.
Estimates show the possibility of 1-3 inches of snow for the Cape and Islands, 3-6 inches for points south of the Massachusetts Turnpike and along the coast.
Six to nine inches of snow is possible for points north of Interstate 90, including Fitchburg and southern New Hampshire.
Temperatures are projected to slowly warm overnight into Sunday, causing a change to rain in Boston and southeastern Massachusetts. However, if the current forecast holds, ice may be a 'big problem' for towns to the north and west, according to the Weather Team.
'There will be snow out there. There will be some sleet and freezing rain. And keep in mind, it's the ice that's dangerous and creates that dangerous travel. And we could be dealing with that for several hours throughout the afternoon on Sunday and then eventually switching over to rain for parts of eastern Massachusetts into Sunday night,' Boston 25 Meteorologist Vicki Graf said in her latest forecast.
'Watch out for some slippery travel, especially Sunday!' Graf writes.
For the latest on the forecast, stay tuned to the Boston 25 Weather page.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
What to know about taking an Alaska cruise with your whole family
You're planning your next cruise vacation, but want to go somewhere other than the Caribbean. There are lots of options for families, but one cruise destination that stands out among the rest is an Alaska cruise. You've likely heard stories of the rugged wilderness, incredible landscapes, and adventurous excursions from older family and friends who've ventured to The Last Frontier for a cruise. While you may be thinking Alaska cruises are just for retirees, I'm here to tell you otherwise. Cruises to Alaska can be great family vacations, whether your kids are in elementary school or everyone in your traveling party are young adults. I recently took a family cruise (my parents and I) to Alaska with Disney Cruise Line and have fully embraced that you shouldn't wait to go on an Alaska cruise. This trip-of-a-lifetime on the Disney Wonder is filled with exciting things to do. Need more proof that Alaska cruises are great for families? Keep reading for my five reasons why you shouldn't wait until you're older to go on an Alaska cruise. NO HIDDEN FEES: The best all-inclusive cruise lines worldwide Alaska cruise port days are filled with exciting, but sometimes strenuous, excursions On my Disney cruise, each of our port days were filled with exciting port adventures. We made day-long stops in Skagway, Ketchikan, and Juneau. There was also a glacier viewing day where we traveled up the Endicott Arm to see the Dawes Glacier. On each of these days, we ventured off the ship and fit in as many shore excursions as possible. These exciting but sometimes strenuous excursions left all of us exhausted by the end of the day. MAKE MEMORIES: 25 best family vacation spots in the U.S. for all ages ▶ Our day in Juneau: For example, in Juneau, my family and I had a very full day that started with an early morning excursion taking flight in a helicopter to the Mendenhall glacier. After a 20-minute flight-seeing tour, the helicopter landed on the glacier. We trekked around for about an hour with a guide to learn all about glaciers. We also drank glacier water from a small stream of melted ice and wedged ourselves into a glacial crevasse for photos. Our glacier excursion ended with a short flight back to the heliport. We were then whisked away to lunch at a traditional salmon bake. Lunch refueled us before our last excursion of the day: a whale watching and wildlife quest. Lo and behold, at the end of the tour, a mother and calf started breaching right in front of our boat. Everyone was snapping photos and taking videos of this incredible display of Mother Nature. In Juneau, we were out from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Of course, glacier treks and whale watching aren't all that Juneau has to offer. There are also ziplines, dog sledding, kayaking, salmon fishing, and more excursions that offer adventurous travelers the chance to experience the Alaskan wilderness. ▶ Active adventures in other ports of call: In our other ports of call, the days were still filled with excitement, though much less strenuous, to balance out our days a little more. In Skagway, we took a three-hour train ride on the White Pass Railway. Then in Ketchikan, we explored Totem Bight National State Park and watched the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. Active port adventures in these destinations include trail hiking, rafting, bike tours, off-roading in a UTV, and a zodiac wilderness quest. There's plenty for kids to do onshore and onboard on an Alaska cruise ▶ The onboard experience: On the Disney Wonder, there's plenty for kids to do onshore and onboard. Of course, there's Disney's kids' clubs, the Oceaneer Lab and Oceaneer Club. These are open for children ages three to 10. These dedicated kids' areas offer young cruisers the chance to play games, do activities, and even see Disney characters, all with other kids and under the watchful eyes of trained kids club counselors. Older tweens and teens have spaces just for them, too, with Edge and Vibe, for kids ages 11 to 14 and 14 to 17, respectively. Of course, onboard, everyone's favorite Disney characters are ready to see families. Throughout the week, I saw everyone from Mickey and Minnie Mouse to Cinderella and Ariel, plus Thor and Black Panther. Character meet-and-greet times are in the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app. BEST TRIP EVER: 101 fresh new family vacation ideas for every age and budget Sometimes, just watching the scenery go by from the pool deck or the Deck Four promenade is a great way for kids and adults to relax. And you never know who you're going to see on the promenade. ▶ How to see characters in their Alaska outfits: If you or your kids love seeing characters, then you've likely seen pictures or videos of Mickey Mouse and the gang in their Alaska-specific outfits. Mickey dons a set of yellow overalls, and Minnie is in a fur-lined parka. On my Disney cruise, kids of all ages lined up for hours on glacier viewing day to get pictures with the characters in these outfits. I was one of those people who waited for a while, lining up to see Mickey at 7:50 a.m. He didn't start meeting until 9:00 a.m. Then I immediately went to see Minnie on the other side of the ship. By the time I saw both of them, it was 10:00 am. Donald, Daisy, Pluto, and Goofy also have themed outfits. The lines to see them weren't nearly as long, especially in the afternoon when glacier excursions started departing from the ship. ▶ Great things to do with kids on shore: Out in the ports of call, parents will find there's a ton for kids to do. In Skagway, kids can complete the Junior Ranger program at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, which encompasses downtown Skagway. Stop by the park's Visitor Center to pick up a Junior Ranger booklet. Then go around town completing the tasks, and turn in the book at the end of the day to get your badge. Kids who love trains will also love riding the White Pass Scenic Railway. The three-hour train ride up into the mountains and back down to Skagway. SET SAIL: 12 best family cruises and ships in the world Another fun thing for kids and adults to do on shore is the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan. The high-energy show will have kids on their feet cheering for their respective team's lumberjack team to win it all. On my sailing, we saw the Disney Cruise Line-exclusive showing of the performance, which included a warm-up act with Goofy getting all of the kids out of the stands for some stretching and exercising, which was fun. Totem Bight State Historical Park is another great option for a few hours of unique educational learning about totem poles and Native Alaskans that is pleasurable for adults and kids. Consider extending your trip before or after your Alaska cruise for a land and sea vacation Summer means the kids are out of school, and you can extend your vacation a little longer. Alaska is a great destination for a land and sea vacation, where you take a cruise, then add on a day or two to explore the interior of Alaska or the embarkation port of Vancouver. While adults may have to take a few extra days off of work, you can always try to book your trip over national holidays where you may already have the day off, like Memorial Day, Labor Day, or the 4th of July, so you save a day or two of your PTO. CRUISE DEALS: Kids sail free on these 8 cruise lines My sailing on the Disney Wonder started and ended in Vancouver, Canada, so I arrived two days before the cruise to explore the city. During my time in Vancouver, my family and I enjoyed a food tour of Chinatown (one of the oldest in North America), ate seafood and drank local beers at standout restaurants (Jam Cafe at breakfast is a must-try), and saw the Vancouver Olympic torch. Vancouver is also a short two-hour drive to Whistler, where you can enjoy a gondola ride between mountains, tour the Olympic village, or even try your hand at bobsledding. Trying new activities and foods is part of the fun There's nothing better than having a new experience with your family. I can say that after taking my first helicopter ride with my parents, riding historic trains together, and learning about totem poles as a family, that doing all of these things together and making memories is part of the fun. On any cruise, but especially one to Alaska, being open to new activities is a huge part of the experience. BUDGET-FRIENDLY: 11 cheap family vacations that are super fun For us, trying new foods is also a must-do. In Alaska, the one thing we all really wanted to try was king crab legs. While everyone raves about Tracy's King Crab Shack in Juneau, we knew we were not going to have time in that port to go there. We also heard Woadie's South East Seafood in Skagway was a fantastic spot. So we went there and were glad we did. The king crab legs were huge, with succulent pieces of meat inside bright red shells. Additionally, anytime we saw local root beer (an Alaska staple) on a menu throughout our cruise, we had to try it. Don't give in to the temptation of over-planning your Alaska cruise One thing that stuck with me from this cruise is not to give in to the temptation of over-planning. You'll definitely want to fill your days with excursions, but with the limited port times, there's simply not enough time to truly do it all, especially if you're traveling with kids or, in my case, dads who want to read every sign at a museum. What worked best for us was to pick one or two excursions (based on how long we were in port and how long the excursions were). Then, after the excursions were done, we explored the port on our own. We often found ourselves at unique little spots, like a local brewery for fish and chips, a fry bread spot that has made the rounds on TikTok but is still worth the hype, or just enjoying going back to the ship a little early to rest and take in the view from our balcony. TEEN-FRIENDLY TRIPS: 10 best vacation ideas for families with teenagers Overplanning can also creep in on board the ship. In Ketchikan, we arrived in port later in the morning. As we were docking, characters started roaming around the outside promenade deck and the atrium area as a surprise and delight for guests (this can happen anytime, anywhere on Disney Cruise ships). My mom and I stumbled upon Donald in his lumberjack outfit and Chip 'n' Dale, all of whom were happy to take photos with us. These unplanned special moments wouldn't have been possible if I had overplanned the morning with activities and getting off the ship right when the all ashore was given. For my family, the real joy of sailing to Alaska was getting the best of the Last Frontier plus a sprinkle of Disney magic, and the latter can't be planned. Curious about Alaska cruises? Here's why you shouldn't wait to go originally appeared on More from FamilyVacationist: The views and opinions expressed in this column are the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. and are owned and operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using the FamilyVacationist travel recommendation methodology, we review and select family vacation ideas, family vacation spots, all-inclusive family resorts, and classic family vacations for all ages. TourScoop covers guided group tours and tour operators, tour operator reviews, tour itinerary reviews and travel gear recommendations. If you buy an item through a link in our content, we may earn a commission.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Severe thunderstom warning issued for parts of Massachusetts
We're on a SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING from the Boston 25 Weather Team due to a severe thunderstorm warning in our area. The warning is for parts of Worcester and Middlesex Counties until 7 p.m. The storms are expected to bring damaging winds and downpours. Boston 25 News will update the latest weather forecast when it becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW WATCH THE FORECAST | INTERACTIVE RADAR | DOWNLOAD THE APPS Follow our Boston 25 Meteorologists on Twitter for updates: Kevin Lemanowicz | Shiri Spear | Tucker Antico | Vicki Graf Stay Informed: Utilize MEMA's real-time power outage viewer to stay informed about current power outages in your community and region, and across the state, including information from utility companies about restoration times. Utilize MEMA's live weather radar and forecasting tools. MassDOT | MBTA | Logan Airport | Amtrak Online Resources: Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency - on Facebook and Twitter Mass211 Federal Emergency Management Agency National Weather Service/Boston National Weather Service/Albany, NY
3 days ago
The US faces more frequent extreme weather events, but attitudes and actions aren't keeping up
WASHINGTON -- After deadly flooding in central Texas in 1987, some thought they'd proven they could handle Mother Nature's best punch. Then came this month's horrific flash floods, when unfathomable amounts of rain fell in only hours and more than 100 people died. Before 2021, the typically temperate Pacific Northwest and western Canada seemed highly unlikely to get a killer heat wave, but they did. Tropical Hawaii once felt an ocean away from drought-fueled wildfires, until it wasn't. And many in inland North Carolina figured hurricanes were a coastal problem until the remnants of Helene blew in last year. Climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and intense, according to climate scientists and government data. But people and governments are generally living in the past and haven't embraced that extreme weather is now the norm, to say nothing about preparing for the nastier future that's in store, experts in meteorology, disasters and health told The Associated Press. 'What happens with climate change is that what used to be extreme becomes average, typical, and what used to never occur in a human lifetime or maybe even in a thousand years becomes the new extreme," Princeton University climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer said. "We start to experience things that just basically never happened before.' The 10-year summer average of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's climate extreme index, which tracks hurricanes, heavy rain, droughts and high and low temperatures, is 58% higher than it was in the 1980s. Despite the grim trajectory, society isn't acting with enough alarm, Oppenheimer said. 'There's plenty of evidence that we sit there and do absolutely nothing while these risks are coming right at us like a moving railroad train and we're standing in the tracks. And then all of a sudden, bam,' he said. Although the changing climate is the biggest problem, the way we react to or ignore the changes could make a bad situation worse, experts said. Marshall Shepherd, a University of Georgia meteorology professor who previously served as president of the American Meteorological Society, said people tend to base decisions on how they fared during past extreme weather events, including storms that didn't end up directly affecting them. This leaves them overly optimistic that they'll also fare well today, even though storms have grown more fierce. He points to the Texas flooding. 'That is flash flood alley. We know that floods happen in that region all the time. ... I've already seen normalcy bias statements by people in the regions saying, well, we get flooding all the time,' Shepherd said, pointing out that the amount of rain that fell in only a few hours last week was anything but normal. People need to shift how they think about disasters, even if they don't live in the most disaster-prone locations, said Kim Klockow McClain, an extreme weather social scientist at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research who studies communicating disaster warnings and risk. 'The message needs to be, if you're used to some degree of nuisance flooding, every so often, look at what happened in Texas and realize that this is a shifting baseline,' she said. Time and again after catastrophic storms and wildfires, people whose lives were upended say they didn't think it could happen to them. This mindset helps people cope, but with extreme weather happening more frequently and in more places, it can prevent them from adequately preparing. 'It's sort of a psychological mechanism to protect us that it can't happen to me,' said Susan Cutter, co-director of the Hazards Vulnerability & Resilience Institute at the University of South Carolina. Surviving past extreme events can leave people believing that it won't happen again or, if it does, that they'll be fine, said Lori Peek, director of the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado. She said this overconfidence can be dangerous: 'Just because I've lived through a fire or a flood or a hurricane or a tornado, that does not mean that the next time is going to look like the last time.' As the weather has grown more extreme, our ability to prepare for and react to it hasn't kept pace, the scientists said. 'Infrastructure is aging in our country and is more vulnerable given the fact that there are just simply, as a matter of fact, more people living in harm's way,' Peek said. 'As our population has continued to rise, it's not only that we have more people in the country, it's also that we have more people living in particularly hazardous areas like our coastal areas.' The Trump Administration's mass layoffs and planned cuts to agencies that study climate and help warn of and deal with disasters — the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Weather Service and research labs at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey — could further worsen the situation, several experts said. Smart and experienced people have already left these agencies and it could take years to make up for their knowledge and abilities, they said. 'We're destroying the capability we have that we're going to need more and more in the future,' Oppenheimer said. As for future disasters, the country needs to figure out and plan for the worst-case scenario instead of looking to the past, Peek said. 'This is our future,' Peek said. 'It's obvious that we're living into a future where there are going to be more fires and floods and heat waves." ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
