Massachusetts and the rest of New England is bracing for a wintry mix of snow, sleet and rain.

The storm is expected to arrive by Wednesday night December 26th  and continue throughout the day on Thursday the 27th.

The National Weather Service has posted a winter storm watch for central and western Massachusetts, where some areas could get several inches of snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain.

In Boston and along the coast, however, warmer temperatures are expected to turn the precipitation over to mostly rain on Thursday.

A high wind watch has also been issued for southeastern Massachusetts, including Cape Cod and the Islands. Forecasters say wind gusts could reach 60 mph during the storm, with the potential for bringing down tree limbs and power lines.