A winter storm watch has been issued in Massachusetts ahead of a significant winter storm expected to make for a messy Sunday night before some of the coldest air of the season moves in.

Rain showers are expected to begin in the early afternoon, moving from west to east across the state. Most of Massachusetts, including Boston, Worcester and Western Massachusetts, can expect to see rain the rest of the day as temperatures are forecast to reach the low 40s. The Berkshires could experience a mix of rain and light snow.

Massachusetts could see several inches of snow this weekend from a weather system passing over the region on Sunday night, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service's Boston office.