Updated: 623 AM EST Wed Dec 3 2025
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Lingering snow bands should exit the area by daybreak. Drier weather returns for today before an arctic cold front arrives Thursday afternoon that may have a few snow showers and localized snow squalls accompany it. This front will also usher in a much colder airmass going into Thursday night and Friday. A coastal storm tracks well to the south Friday night and Saturday but may bring a bit of light snow to the region. Another cold front moves through Sunday followed by another surge of very cold air Sunday night and Monday. Mainly dry and cold conditions continue into Tuesday.
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UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING
Key Messages:
* Light snow bands early this morning come to an end by ~6 AM
* Drier day ahead with high pressure building in following storm's exit, though temperatures remain below normal
Some light snow showers wrapping around over the region as the coastal storm exits off to the ENE should come to an end by sunrise this morning. High pressure then builds in from the SW, setting the stage for a drier, sunnier day, even with some clouds sticking around. Winds diminish significantly from the day prior. High temperatures are still expected to be colder than normal for early December, not climbing out of the mid 30s across the interior and higher elevations. Highs should climb into the low 40s elsewhere..
6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM THURSDAY
Key Messages:
* Dry and chilly overnight ahead of an arctic cold front
* Arctic cold front passes over the region Thursday afternoon/evening, bringing the chance for localized snow squalls and scattered snow showers
* Much colder air fills in behind the front
Winds tonight remain light with high pressure's influence as cold air aloft settles over the region as well. 925 mb temps around -2C will support lows in the upper teens and low 20s for much of the region, with temperatures closer to freezing over Cape Cod and the Islands.
High pressure exits the region early Thursday ahead of an arctic cold front expected to pass over southern New England during the afternoon Thursday. The latest NAM and GFS snow squall parameters are indicating a low chance for localized snow squalls in the afternoon as this front moves through.
Forecast soundings show a very well-mixed environment post-front, but ahead of that also show dry low to mid-levels; the instability is there, but there isn't much moisture to go with it. So, the chance for snow squalls for southern New England remains low at this time, but they cannot be completely ruled out. Some scattered snow showers with mostly flurries are more likely across the region during this timeframe. Winds will pick up considerably from the NW in the afternoon with gusts approaching ~35 MPH for parts of the interior and close to 30 MPH elsewhere. Temperatures will fall quickly heading into the nighttime hours..
THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY
Key Messages:
* Arctic airmass moves in Thu night-Fri bringing very cold temperatures.
* Coastal system passing offshore Fri night-Sat. Light wintry precip possible. Minimal impacts expected.
Details...
Thursday Night and Friday:
Thursday night will likely start out on the gusty side with NW winds behind the passage of a strong arctic front. Gusts 20-30 mph are possible for the first half of Thursday night with stronger gusts up to 45 mph possible for the Cape and Islands. Winds gradually trend downward, especially after midnight. The big story for Thursday night will be the cold. Diminishing winds later in the night and minimal cloud cover will support efficient radiational cooling. An arctic airmass with 850mb temperatures -18 to -21C advects into the region overnight, setting up the region for the coldest temperatures so far this season.
Temperatures will likely plummet into the single digits for the interior and teens along the coast. Winds chills may make it feel more like negative single digits for the higher terrain and single digits elsewhere overnight.
The arctic airmass remains in place for Friday, although 850mb temperature anomaly is slightly moderated from overnight around -9 to -12C. This will support a chilly day with highs running 12-20 degrees below normal. Highs stay in the low to mid 20s for interior southern New England and other areas struggling to reach 30. Cape/Islands and south coast may end up a bit more moderated in the low 30s.
Friday Night & Weekend:
Ensemble guidance shows a consensus for a transition to a more active pattern heading into the weekend with a few weak waves moving through mainly zonal flow aloft.
A weak shortwave trough moves through the flow with a coastal low tracking offshore Friday night into Saturday. There is a consensus among guidance that the best moisture stays to the south of the region with the well offshore track of the low. However, ensemble means indicate that the system should brush close enough to bring light QPF amounts across SE and E southern New England. Details are still lower confidence this far out (timing, amounts) which will depend on the strength, moisture, and track of the low. Overall a few snow showers are possible overnight and rain/snow showers possible for Saturday. This is appearing to likely be a light event with minor snow accumulations (< 1.0") and low QPF overall (< 0.25" liquid). Temperatures moderate more on Saturday with highs in the 30s and low 40s for the Cape/Islands.
Another weak system moves through with an accompanying cold front Sunday. This will bring another round of arctic air to southern New England. High temperatures likely fall back into the 20s and low 30s. Confidence decreases in the details of the pattern toward mid- week with potential for a few weak disturbances in flow which could bring periodic chances for light precipitation. Temperatures lean below normal..
Forecaster Confidence Levels...
Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent.
12Z update...
Today...High Confidence.
Most terminals improve to VFR by 13Z. Cape/Islands will likely hold onto the lower ceilings a little longer before improving to VFR 14-18Z. NW winds with gusts up to 25 kts (up to 30 kts for Cape/Islands) in the morning decreasing in the afternoon. Winds shift WSW after 21Z.
Tonight...High Confidence.
VFR. Light SW winds.
Thursday...High Confidence.
VFR. Winds become more WNW and notably increase as an arctic cold front arrives. Sustained winds 15-20 kts possible with gusts 25-30 kts (up to 35 occasionally for the Cape and Islands) in the afternoon into the evening hours.
KBOS Terminal...High confidence in TAF.
KBDL Terminal...High confidence in TAF.
Outlook /Thursday Night through Sunday/...
Thursday Night: VFR. Windy with gusts up to 35 kt.
Friday: VFR. Breezy.
Friday Night: VFR. Slight chance SN.
Saturday: VFR. Chance RA, slight chance SN.
Saturday Night through Sunday: VFR.
Forecaster Confidence Levels...
Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent.
Today through Thursday...High confidence.
Weak high pressure is expected to build in briefly to our SW today, allowing winds to diminish as seas also decrease. However, they will remain just elevated enough to warrant Small Craft Advisories. Winds and seas may drop below Small Craft Advisory criteria tonight, but gusty W to NW winds will redevelop going into Thursday as the next cold front arrives. Winds and seas could approach Gale Warning criteria Thursday afternoon post-front, so a Gale Watch for the outer waters, Nantucket Sound, and Cape Cod Bay has been hoisted.
Higher astro tides will favor a low risk for some very minor coastal flooding and splashover this morning for the eastern MA coastline with NW winds, so a Coastal Flood Statement remains in effect through this morning's high tide. Guidance still favors the highest risk being south of Boston.
Outlook /Thursday Night through Sunday/...
Thursday Night: Moderate risk for gale force winds with gusts up to 40 kt. Areas of rough seas. Slight chance of snow.
Friday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft.
Friday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain, slight chance of snow.
Saturday: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain.
Saturday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Slight chance of rain.
Sunday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft.