An updated report was issued from the National Weather Service on Sunday at 6:14 p.m. for a snow squall until 7 p.m. for Franklin, Worcester, Hampshire and Hampden counties.
“At 6:13 p.m., a snow squall was along a line extending from near Goshen to Granby to near Burlington to near Woodbury Center and moving southeast at 45 MPH,” says the weather service.
Expect a snow squall in the following locations:
New Britain, West Hartford, Bristol, Chicopee, Southington, Westfield, Holyoke, Windsor, Northampton, and Agawam around 6:20 p.m.
Springfield, Hartford, Enfield, Amherst, Newington, Wethersfield, South Windsor, Berlin, Longmeadow, and East Windsor around 6:25 p.m.
Manchester, East Hartford, Glastonbury, Ludlow, Rocky Hill, East Longmeadow, Belchertown, and Pelham around 6:30 p.m.
Vernon, Ellington, Wilbraham, Somers, and Hampden around 6:35 p.m.
Tolland, Palmer, Stafford, Monson, and Bolton around 6:40 p.m.
Coventry, Ware, Hebron, Marlborough, and Andover around 6:45 p.m.
Warren and Brimfield around 6:50 p.m.
The weather service adds, “Use extra caution if you must travel into or through this squall. Rapid changes in visibility and potentially slick roads may lead to accidents.”
Snow squalls: Risks, differences, and safety seasures
What are snow squalls?
Snow squalls are brief but intense winter weather events often linked to strong cold fronts. They can cause sudden white-out conditions and icy roads within minutes, even if there’s no major winter storm happening. While they usually last less than an hour and might only result in minor snow accumulation, they pose significant risks to drivers due to reduced visibility, gusty winds, and rapidly falling temperatures. These conditions have historically led to deadly traffic accidents.
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Understanding snow squalls vs. snowstorms
The main distinction between a snow squall and a snowstorm lies in their duration and intensity. Snow squalls are typically brief but intense, lasting around 30-60 minutes. In contrast, a snowstorm can stretch over several hours or even days
Snow squall warnings
Snow squall warnings are rapidly issued for specific areas, much like tornado or severe thunderstorm warnings. They offer crucial, localized information aimed at saving lives. If an alert for a snow squall is issued in your area, it’s best to postpone or avoid driving until the squall moves on.
Actions during a snow squall warning
In response to a snow squall warning, individuals should follow the guidelines provided by the weather service, which encompass the following key actions:
Avoid or delay travel: If a snow squall warning is issued for your vicinity, it’s advisable to postpone or refrain from motor travel until the squall has passed through your area. Highways and roads are particularly hazardous during snow squalls.
Reduce speed and increase visibility: If you are already in transit and cannot exit the road in time, reduce your speed, turn on your headlights and hazard lights.
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Maintain safe distance: Allow plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you.
Avoid abrupt braking: It’s also best not to slam on your brakes. With slick/icy roads, this could contribute to the loss of vehicle control and also increase the risk of a chain reaction crash.
Winter weather safety tips: For comprehensive guidelines on how to stay safe before, during, and after encountering winter weather conditions, visit the weather service Winter Weather Safety page. This resource offers valuable insights and precautions to help you navigate the challenges posed by winter weather effectively.
Prepare your vehicle: Before setting out on your journey, take proactive measures to prepare your vehicle for winter conditions. This includes checking your tires, brakes, and lights, and ensuring your vehicle’s fluids are topped up. A well-maintained vehicle is better equipped to handle the challenges of winter driving.
Emergency kit essentials: Ensure your vehicle is equipped with a comprehensive emergency kit, featuring essentials such as blankets, non-perishable food, water, a flashlight, and a first-aid kit. Don’t forget to add jumper cables, flares or a reflective triangle, an ice scraper, a car cell phone charger, a map, and cat litter or sand to enhance tire traction. These provisions can prove invaluable in the event of an unforeseen breakdown or emergency during your journey.
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In conclusion, when faced with a snow squall warning, prioritizing personal safety and adhering to the weather service recommendations can significantly mitigate risks. By understanding, preparing, and staying vigilant, individuals can navigate these winter hazards with greater confidence and security.
BOSTON (WHDH) – Just over one week after Massachusetts lawmakers announced a new, statewide initiative to combat wrong-way driving and improve roadway safety, law enforcement responded to another deadly wrong-way crash in Northboro Wednesday night.
With all of the recent tragedies, including the death of Massachusetts State Police trooper Kevin Trainor in Lynnfield last month, officials said they have pinpointed 100 locations to put on the priority list to make important safety changes as quickly as possible.
The $75-million detection and prevention program includes advanced detection technology, enhanced roadway signage, infrastructure improvements, and targeted safety upgrades across Massachusetts.
“They’ve been demonstrated to work in other places where they’ve been implemented, and even in Massachusetts the ones that are already in place, there is plenty of documented evidence showing people realizing they’re going the wrong way when those systems are activated,” said Mark Schieldrop of Triple A.
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In Barnstable, those changes have already been implemented along Route 6. State Representative Steven Xiarhos said the area can be tricky to navigate.
“Lots of moving parts, a college right down the road, and someone could make the wrong move when they’re confused, and that’s one of those interactions that could be confusing,” Xiarhos said.
Schieldrop said there are many reasons for wrong-way driving, but one stands out above the rest.
“When we look at the typical wrong-way driver who’s causing these crashes, by and large alcohol impairment is a factor in the vast majority of them,” Schieldrop said.
Xiarhos said the prorgam is worth every penny if it will save lives.
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“It’s frustrating when a horrible thing happens, you can’t turn back the clock,” he said. “So as an elected offical now, as a former police officer, let’s do everything we can to prevent this.”
The safety installations around the state will continue into 2027.
(Copyright (c) 2026 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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Gas prices dipped below $4 a gallon in Massachusetts Thursday for the first time in exactly two months.
According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gas in Massachusetts is now $3.99, down from $4.02 on Wednesday.
That’s the first time the average fell below the $4 mark since April 25.
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The national average on Thursday was $3.92 a gallon, AAA said. That average was above $4 for nearly three months before it fell to $3.99 a week ago on June 18.
Gas prices rose sharply after the war between the U.S. and Iran started on February 28.
A spokesperson for GasBuddy, which also tracks fuel price data, said the national average has been dropping for six weeks as the “recent U.S.-Iran framework agreement has helped ease supply fears.”
The company said the national average should keep falling to $3.75 by July 4.
“Six weeks of declines sounds like good news, and in some ways it is, but the context matters,” Patrick De Haan, a petroleum expert at GasBuddy, said in a statement Thursday.
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“At roughly $3.75, this would be the second most expensive July 4 ever recorded, roughly 65 cents higher than last year and nearly $1 above where prices started in 2026. The U.S.-Iran agreement gives markets hope, but it’s being tested, and any breakdown in those talks could reverse the recent relief quickly. Drivers should use every tool available to find the lowest prices near them before filling up.”
A year ago at this time, the average price for a gallon of gas in Massachusetts was $3.10, according to AAA.
The all-time high in the state is $5.05 a gallon, set back in June 2022.
A Massachusetts man who allegedly looked to have sex with a 15-year-old girl and bring drugs and alcohol to the meet-up has been arrested during a crackdown on human trafficking amid the World Cup.
Richard Lallier, 34, of Rehoboth, is one of 13 individuals who face exploitation and trafficking charges stemming from an operation that the FBI Boston has partnered on with the Massachusetts State Police and Rhode Island State Police during the global soccer tournament, dubbed “Operation Red Card.”
“Participating agencies emphasized that while major international sporting events bring significant economic and cultural benefits to host communities,” the Rhode Island State Police said in a statement on Tuesday, “they may also create opportunities for traffickers and those who exploit vulnerable populations.”
“Law enforcement agencies throughout the region remain committed to proactive enforcement efforts designed to deter human trafficking, identify victims, and hold offenders accountable,” the State Police added.
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The Rhode Island State Police arrested six individuals, including Lallier, while the Massachusetts State Police apprehended seven suspects during a five-day operation between June 12 and 16.
The suspects arrested in Massachusetts range in age between 21 and 71, all of whom have been arraigned on state charges of sex for a fee with a child under 18, enticement of a child under 16, and attempted rape of a child.
In Rhode Island, Lallier, with a last known address in Rehoboth, is being held without bail on charges of attempted enticement, attempted interstate travel for sexual contact with a minor under 16 years old, and attempted transmission of obscene material to a minor.
Lindsay Laurie, a Rhode Island state trooper who went undercover to operate a Facebook profile that featured “age-regressed images” of herself, said in an affidavit that she informed Lallier via Messenger that he was speaking to a 15-year-old.
In response, Lallier, who went by the name of “Frank Land” on Facebook, allegedly said he was 34 years old before he asked for a “naughty video.”
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Lallier also allegedly “sent multiple videos of his penis” to the undercover profile.
Two days later, last Wednesday, Lallier messaged the undercover profile again, explaining that he wanted to find “snow,” a “code word for cocaine,” Laurie stated. Lallier said he would “bring weed and fireball” to a meetup.
Last Friday, after Lallier confirmed to the undercover profile that he arrived in Rhode Island’s Lincoln Woods State Park, authorities arrested him, according to Laurie’s affidavit.
Major international events, such as the World Cup, lead to “large-scale travel” and “increased demand for lodging,” creating “opportunities for criminal exploitation,” according to Michael Soper, the program director of Boston Hotel Watch, an intelligence network connecting hotels and law enforcement.
Soper pointed to the “rapid expansion of short-term rental platforms” in creating a “significant and evolving challenge” to prevent human trafficking since the accommodations often have “less oversight, fewer standardized security protocols, and limited participation in established reporting networks.”
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“As a result,” Soper said in a statement shared with the Herald, “illicit activity may occur outside the visibility of hospitality professionals and law enforcement partnerships, making the full scope of the problem difficult to measure.”
