Mass Weather: Thanksgiving to see as many as 9 hours of downpour

Thanksgiving in Massachusetts is expected to be wet as another storm is expected to drench the state.

After a dry Wednesday, a system is expected to move through southern New England, but it’s not clear when on Thursday that will happen, according to the National Weather Service.

However, rainfall is expected to start at different times across the state’s major cities. First in Worcester, where rain is expected after 03.00 and ends sometime before Noon, forecasters said. Rainfall totals in Worcester can accumulate between one-tenth to one-quarter of an inch.

Similarly, Boston is expected to start seeing rain beginning after 7 a.m. and ending before 2 a.m., forecasters said. Between one-tenth and three-quarters of an inch could fall in Boston during this period.

Springfield should also see a long period of rain Thursday, likely starting after 5 a.m., forecasters said. The rain should stop before 11 p.m. and a total of between one-half and three-quarters of an inch.

Overall Boston, Worcester and Springfield should see nine hours of rain Thursday, according to AccuWeather.

“In virtually all cases, precipitation is expected to continue mid-day into the late afternoon,” National Weather Service meteorologists wrote.

Light snow is expected to fall in areas at a higher elevation of 1,000 feet, forecasters said. Generally between 1 and 3 inches of snow is expected, although forecasters expect “higher amounts” to be possible.

“At this time, we are not planning any winter weather headlines for Thursday,” forecasters added.

The snow and sleet risk for Massachusetts on Thursday is limited to the Berkshires, according to a hazardous weather forecast map.

Starting Wednesday morning, two New England winter storm watches will go into effect until Thursday evening. One watch covers Vermont’s Bennington and Windham counties, and the other covers southern and southwestern Maine and central, northern and southern New Hampshire.

Heavy snow is expected to fall, with about 6 or 7 inches of snow expected to accumulate, the watches said.

“Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slippery and hazardous,” read the storm watch from the National Weather Service’s Albany office. “Plan for slick road conditions. The hazardous conditions may affect travel around the Thanksgiving holiday.”

Although Friday could see some scattered showers, most of the week’s precipitation should end Thursday evening, forecasters said. Snow should continue to fall in higher elevation areas through Friday morning.