Boston is expected to see snow hit through the first half of the holiday week, potentially impacting travel conditions before temperatures are expected to warm up over freezing Christmas day, according to National Weather Service forecasts.
“For folks that are traveling, just be aware of there could be some some slicker roads for travel days, the 23rd and into the 24th,” said NWS meteorologist Emily McMinn. “Just be weather aware and take your time traveling.”
The holiday week is expected to kick off Monday with clearer, sunny skies, NWS forecasts. Temperatures will be “a little bit cooler compared to what we’ve had over the last few days,” McMinn said, reaching a high in the mid-30s.
The area is forecasted to “finally see a little bit of a break from the wind,” the meteorologist said, as gusts drop off through the morning or into the afternoon.
Tuesday is expected to be similarly chilly, with a high in the mid-30s, forecasts show.
“Then snow for Tuesday, starting Tuesday morning possibly and lingering into the overnight hours and into Wednesday morning before moving out,” McMinn said.
NWS forecasts snow accumulations of less than an inch in Boston through Tuesday, with a slight chance of snow showers continuing through Wednesday around noon.
Throughout Massachusetts, residents can expect accumulations of 1 to 3 inches in interior areas, an inch or less near the south coast, and potential for localized amounts of 4 inches in higher terrain, NWS states. The service again warned of accumulations and “slippery travel conditions” on one of the busiest travel days of the year.
Wednesday is expected to get into the upper 30s and see gustier winds up to 26 mph through the day in Boston, forecasts show. Christmas eve night is likely to be cloudy and cold, with a low in the mid-20s.
Chances for a white Christmas in Boston aren’t high, McMinn said, with most of the snow on the ground melted by that morning.
“As far as Christmas goes right now, given that it’s supposed to be above freezing, be around 40 degrees for Christmas morning, Christmas Day,” said McMinn, “and we’re looking really like an inch or less for the Boston area of snow heading into Christmas morning, at that point, there probably won’t be much left on the ground.”
Christmas day is likely to be cloudy and slightly warmer, with the low Thursday night around 30 degrees, NWS forecasts. Late into the night, a low chance of rain, snow, and sleet may hit the area.
“We’ve got quite a bit of uncertainty in the forecast going into the weekend,” McMinn said. “Friday is our next chance for some kind of precipitation, but at this point, there’s quite a bit of uncertainty.”
Preliminary forecasts through the weekend show continuing chances of precipitation and highs in the low 40s to mid-30s, NWS states.
Boston Weather: Snow expected to impact holiday travel, warmer Christmas incoming
