Dozens of school districts canceled schools and state offices were closing early on Thursday in anticipation of snow expected to arrive by mid-morning, followed by freezing drizzle later.

Maine's Total Weather is timing out the snowstorm, which will also bring some fleet and freezing rain during the evening commute.

Heavy snow will quickly take over for the afternoon hours with very messy travel expected. Snow will likely end as some freezing drizzle or sleet in the evening with all precipitation ending 8-10pm. Central and southern Maine see the most snow on Thursday with 3-6". Slightly lower amounts further to the north.

This latest system will hit us with 1-3 inches of snow before a switchover to sleet and rain across parts of Mass., Rhode Island.

Snow is already beginning in western Massachusetts as of 8 a.m. Thursday, and it will pick up in the eastern part of the state later this morning. The system is expected to turn into freezing rain this afternoon before tapering off in the evening hours,

BOSTON - Snow is coming to Boston and most of Massachusetts today. This "kitchen sink" winter storm will drop a few inches of snow, a layer of icy sleet pellets and freezing rain. The WBZ weather team is continuing our NEXT Weather Alert for Thursday.