Rain, wind, a little snow, headed for the Fall River area

After another mild day today, some wintry weather, rain, and strong winds return this weekend.

According to the National Weather Service, rain will change to snow from northwest to southeast Saturday, starting late in the morning near the Berkshires but not until later in the afternoon in Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts.

Most of the accumulating snow will occur in western portions of Connecticut and Massachusetts, especially in the higher elevations. Initially, the snow may be heavy and wet when it changes over, but should transition to a lighter and fluffier snow Saturday afternoon. Areas closer to the coast will see little if any accumulation.

Strong northwest winds are possible Saturday night into Sunday, especially near the coast and in the higher elevations, which could result in minor wind damage such as some downed branches and wires.

Colder air briefly follows Sunday, before milder weather returns most of next week, along with dry conditions.

The area is expected to see 1″ to 2″ of rain.

The forecast:

Tonight
A chance of rain, mainly after 2am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 37. South wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday
Rain before 4pm, then rain and snow between 4pm and 5pm, then rain after 5pm. Temperature rising to near 47 by 10am, then falling to around 33 during the remainder of the day. South wind 7 to 12 mph becoming northwest 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday Night
Rain likely before 7pm, then a chance of snow between 7pm and 10pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 21. Breezy, with a west wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.