A winter weather advisory is in effect through Tuesday morning, affecting three Massachusetts counties

A winter weather advisory is in effect through Tuesday morning, affecting three Massachusetts counties

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory at 3:04 a.m. Monday that is in effect from 3 p.m. to 10 a.m. Tuesday for Northern Worcester and Franklin, Hampshire and Middlesex counties.

The weather service added: “Mixed precipitation is expected. Total snow accumulations of up to an inch and ice accumulations around a light glaze.”

“Expect slippery road conditions. The dangerous conditions could impact Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes,” the weather service commented. “Slow down and be careful when traveling.”

Winter weather wisdom: Driving tips from the weather service for challenging conditions

The icy conditions in winter often make roads treacherous and result in over 6,000 weather-related traffic fatalities and more than 480,000 injuries each year. When you find yourself on snowy or freezing, rain-soaked roads, safety should be your top priority. Slow down and be careful. When temperatures are near freezing, it is advisable to assume there are icy spots on the road and adjust your driving style accordingly. Be careful of ice buildup on power lines and tree branches as they can break and fall. If possible, avoid driving in these conditions altogether. However, if you must venture out, choose routes with fewer trees and power lines and never touch a downed power line. If you encounter one, call 911 immediately. Here are more tips for driving in winter weather:

Share your travel plans:

If you are traveling out of town in dangerous winter weather, let your family or friends know your destination, planned route and expected arrival time.

Prepare your vehicle:

Make sure your gas tank is full and stock your vehicle with winter essentials, including a window scraper, jumper cables, a small shovel, a flashlight, a cell phone, a blanket, extra warm clothing, drinking water and high-calorie, non-perishable foods.

Stay calm when stranded:

If you get stuck, stay calm. Tell someone about your situation and location. Do not attempt to reach safety on foot. Indicate that you need help by attaching a cloth to your car’s antenna or mirror and make your vehicle more visible by using the dome light and turn signals

Beware of snow plows:

Keep an eye out for snow plows and give them plenty of room to pass. Only overtake a plow when you have a clear view of the road.

Check road conditions:

Before you travel, find out about current road conditions so you can make informed travel decisions.

Stay safe on winter roads with the Weather Service’s valuable winter driving tips and reduce the risk of accidents in difficult weather conditions.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service from United Robots that uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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