How much snow is the Berkshires going to get Wednesday night into Thursday?

Berkshire County is targeted for 3 to 6 inches of snow by Thursday morning as a potent Arctic cold front sweeps through the Northeast. The National Weather Service, AccuWeather.com and other forecasters are on the same page, with a winter weather advisory posted for the county between 4 p.

m. Wednesday and 1 p.m.



Thursday. The higher amounts are expected in Northern Berkshire County, but blowing and drifting snow is likely countywide, with winds gusting from 30 to 40 mph on Thursday. "Winds will howl Thursday afternoon and evening in the Northeast," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Feerick in an online post.

The winds will push much colder air into the area on Thursday night and into Friday, said WAMC Northeast Public Radio meteorologist Paul Caiano. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning commute to work and school, according to government forecasters. For areas not impacted by an unexpected, prolonged snow squall in central Berkshire on Tuesday afternoon, it’s likely to be the first plowable storm of the season.

Once the steady snow tapers off Thursday morning, localized snow squalls are possible throughout the day and into the evening, with snow-covered roads and low visibility caused by brief whiteout conditions. Snowfall totals projected by the National Weather Service’s winter weather briefing range from 3 to 4 inches in South County, closer to 5 inches in Pittsfield, Dalton and adjoining towns, and 6 to 7 inches in Northern Berkshire County. With many holiday activities planned for this weekend, the forecast indicates partly cloudy skies with moderating temperatures, and just a 30 percent chance of snow showers Saturday night.

Temperatures should turn milder with rain showers possible early next week, said Caiano, who’s also chief meteorologist for NewsChannel 13 in Albany, N.Y. Thursday: Overnight snow tapering off to snow showers, high in the low-30s, with strong winds.

Total accumulation: 3 to 6 inches. Cloudy, more snow showers possible at night, low in the mid-teens. Friday: Partly cloudy, windy, mid-20s, dropping to near 15 overnight.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, near 30; mostly cloudy at night, low around 15, snow showers possible. Sunday: Partly cloudy, mid-30s, down to mid-20s at night. Monday: A chance of rain showers, mid-40s.

Source: National Weather Service forecast for Berkshire County..