Published January 20, 2011

Update: Mayor Thomas Menino declared a snow emergency Thursday evening, with a parking ban in effect at 9 p.m. Boston Public Schools are closed Friday.

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Boston could get 1-3″ of snow overnight, just in time to jam up the morning commute.

The National Weather Service says Boston could get up to 8″ from the coming storm, an increase from earlier figures. The snow is expected to stop in the early afternoon, making way for a sunny but bitterly cold weekend. An arctic air mass will bring high temperatures in the teens.

“Moderate to heavy” snow is likely to fall during Friday morning rush hour, covering the roads quickly. Be extra careful driving on bridges and overpasses, where slippery spots can develop quickly.

“The earlier someone goes, the less snow they’ll be around, but I think when we get into the middle and latter part of the morning commute, it’s gonna be pretty hairy out there,” said WCVB-TV meteorologist Harvey Leonard.

Leonard expects the snow to be fairly dry, light snow north and west of the city, but heavier and wetter south of Boston. Snow on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard could turn to rain, which would limit accumulation.

On Twitter, we’re debating the appropriate hash tag for the storm, which is average by Boston standards. Believe it or not, #BabyShanks is a popular suggestion.