Within days of a winter storm sweeping Massachusetts on Super Bowl Sunday, the state will again be covered by several inches of snow.
A period of rapid snow accumulation will fall on Tuesday, according to the National Meteorological Service.
In terms of time, winter precipitation started early in the morning in Berkshires and is expected to start at 8 am in the Springfield area, 9 am in Worcester County, 10 am in eastern Massachusetts and 12 pm in the Cape.
The weather service issued a winter storm alert for Pioneer Valley, Central Massachusetts, Merrimack Valley and North Shore, where about 6 to 6 inches of heavy snow is expected to fall.
For much of the rest of the state – including Berkshires, Greater Boston and almost all of southeastern Massachusetts – a winter weather warning was issued. Meteorologists warn about 10 to 15 centimeters of snow in these areas.
“Traveling can be very difficult. Dangerous conditions can affect the morning or night commute. The worst conditions are expected with the night shift, ”said the meteorological service. “If you have to travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.”
The forecast is about 10 to 15 centimeters of snow for most of the Boston metropolitan area, although the totals vary near the New Hampshire state line and southeastern Massachusetts.
Near Lawrence and Newburyport, the forecast is up to 8 inches. Near Foxborough and Plymouth, 3 to 4 inches are expected. In the Cape and Islands, less than an inch to 4 inches is expected.
In central Massachusetts, there are expected to be 10 to 15 centimeters south of Worcester, while communities in the northern Massachusetts Turnpike can expect 15 to 20 centimeters.
In Pioneer Valley, the forecast is up to 6 inches for Springfield, while most of Franklin and Hampshire counties are expected to see up to 8 inches.
In Berkshires, most of the county is expected to be 10 to 15 centimeters, while pockets of communities can see up to 20 centimeters.
Snow can fall at rates of up to 2.5 cm per hour, sometimes leading to reduced visibility on the roads in the middle of the afternoon. Winter rainfall is expected to become moderate to heavy for a brief period in the afternoon before gradually decreasing at night, according to the weather service.
Lower than normal temperatures will continue at least until the end of the week or beginning of the weekend. Drier weather is expected Wednesday and Thursday. This may not last long, as Massachusetts can see the effects of two ocean storms that are expected to sweep the area from Friday to Saturday and Saturday to Sunday, meteorologists said.
However, the storm track is subject to significant variability after many days, and the forecast is likely to change.