Thursday’s snowfall may have largely ended, but Friday is expected to bring even colder conditions to Massachusetts.
Snowfall totals varied across the state after the snow storm Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Hardwick in Worcester County saw 9.2 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. Belchertown saw 6 inches, while Brimfield and Shutesbury saw 7 inches.
The storm is over, but the region now awaits an Arctic cold front that is expected to drop temperatures and bring strong winds through Friday, forecasters said.
“This cold front is still expected to move fairly quickly across southern New England and into the waters by 7pm this evening,” forecasters said. “While temperatures are still in the mid to upper 30s for most areas, high-resolution models show some scattered snow activity developing… A couple of these can be strong enough to reduce visibility at times, but coverage of this activity can be isolated at best.”
Skies should clear as Thursday evening progresses as wind speeds intensify, with gusts of 50 mph on the Cape and Islands and gusts of 30 to 40 mph inland, forecasters said. Wind speeds could drop a bit, but forecasters expect gusts to be between 25 and 40 mph.
A wind advisory covering all of western and central Massachusetts will be in effect until 10 p.m.
Nighttime temperatures should drop to the low 20s or lower. Worcester expects a low of 21 degrees, while Boston could reach 26 degrees, according to the Meteorological Service. Springfield could reach a low of 22 degrees, and Pittsfield and Great Barrington are expected to reach 19 degrees. A few snow flurries are possible.
“It’s the coldest air mass we’ve seen so far this early in the meteorological winter,” forecasters said. “… However, it will feel like it’s in the teens and single digits above zero, with the coldest readings in the hills of Worcester County and the Berkshires through the early hours of Friday in the morning”.
Don’t expect a warm-up on Friday, as 25-30 mph gusts are expected to continue and temperatures could reach the 30s. Boston should reach 32, 31 in Springfield, but 29 in Worcester. Temperatures along the Cape should approach 40 degrees, but will largely stay in the low 30s.
Afternoon wind chills could continue to make parts of Massachusetts feel like temperatures are in the mid-teens and low 20s, but strong winds should stop later in the evening.
Temperatures should rise on Saturday, with highs between 35 and 40 degrees, forecasters said. Other than the possibility of a few flurries near the Berkshires, it should be a dry day. But a weak cutter is expected to move in later Saturday and possibly bring some snow Sunday. That could change before temperatures climb above freezing, possibly reaching highs around 40 degrees.
This week’s “unseasonably cold weather” is not expected to repeat next week, when milder temperatures in the 40s, 50s and possibly even upper 60s could appear, forecasters said.
“It also looks unsettled at times with a spell of rain expected from Monday to early Tuesday and then again on Wednesday,” forecasters said. “… [We] bass cannot be ruled out
risk for a brief period of snow/ice across parts of northern Massachusetts late Monday/Monday night.”