Final prep underway ahead of expected messy wintery mix

Final preparations underway ahead of an expected messy wintery mix Tuesday with areas north and west of Boston potentially seeing substantial snowfall A sparse dozen schools are closing or conducting early dismissals because of the storm With rain and snow making a mean combination the evening commute is expected to be affected On Monday drivers were stocking up on shovels ice melt and more to get ready for a slow go on the roads Plow drivers spent the day making sure their equipment was snow ready for anything that hits the highways and at grocery stores from Leominster to Littleton it was time to defrost the storm shopping lists