The second of five storms that will slam the eastern half of the United States with snow and ice over a two week period is on the way – and this one has more snow than the first.

Storm Freya whipped from the Midwest into the Northeast Thursday, coating roads in slick ice from Baltimore up the I-95 corridor, making for dangerous commutes and forcing school closures and delayed openings.

The Boston 25 Weather team is tracking a potentially disruptive winter storm that could bring snow, ice, and rain to Massachusetts later this week.

A winter weather advisory is in effect in Massachusetts today as several inches of snow is expected to fall across the state, according to the National Weather Service's Boston office. 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.

A fast-moving storm will bring snow across New York City and the Northeast starting late Saturday and persisting through Sunday morning.

By the time the storm is done, the five boroughs and coastal Connecticut will likely see between 1 to 3 inches of snow.

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for New York City and part of the Tri-State area ahead of the storm. A winter weather advisory was issued for the rest of the region. The timing: look for the first flakes to fly in the evening on Saturday and continue into the morning on Sunday.