Look out: Slick roads this evening before weekend snowstorm hits Boston

A quick-hitting winter storm has left New England with a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing drizzle and plain rain, leading to highly variable snowfall amounts across the region.

While many areas saw a general 1-2 inches of accumulation, some spots fell short of expectations due to shifting bands of precipitation.

The cold ground kept roads slick before setting into a wintry mix. The precipitation fully exited by around 5 p.m. Still, evening commuters should be mindful of lingering icy patches on untreated surfaces.

For weeks, meteorologists have warned about a shift a more active winter pattern. That action is now fully taking shape, and making it truly feel like winter in southern New England.

February has long been known as New England’s snowiest month on average, and this weekend will live up to that reputation with a significant storm set to move in Saturday evening.

The heaviest snowfall will fall overnight into early Sunday morning, bringing widespread plowable snow across much of the region.

While final snow totals will depend on the exact storm track, it looks like most places will see between 6 inches and a foot of snow. Some towns and cities may see even higher amounts where heavier bands develop.

If Boston sees more than 8 inches of snow, this storm will be the city's biggest in nearly three years.

The region's interior communities are set to see the highest snow totals. Meanwhile, coastal areas, particularly Cape Cod and the islands, may see some mixed precipitation and as a result, lower snow amounts.

This storm will move through Massachusetts fast, with just lighter snow or flurries by midday Sunday. The combination of intense snowfall rates overnight and gusty winds will make travel difficult to near-impossible at times.

Saturday's weather event is far from the only storm we're watching!

Next week brings fresh chances for snow, particularly late Tuesday and again on Thursday into Friday.

While details are still uncertain, more snowfall looks likely as disturbances slide through the Northeast.