Gale Watch 4, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1244 AM EST Thu Jan 22 2026

.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
Increased confidence for a dusting to an inch of snow across
interior MA overnight. Confidence is increasing in a
significant winter storm Sunday into Monday but specific
details remain uncertain.

&&

.KEY MESSAGES...

- A weak clipper system brings some light snow to the higher terrain
  areas and light rain for the coastal plain tonight.

- Temperatures surge above normal Thursday with gusty winds
  25-35 mph.

- Arctic front moves through late Fri into Fri evening,
  bringing dangerously cold wind chills Fri night into Sat
  night. Low risk for a few snow showers or squalls with the
  passage of the front.

- A significant winter storm may bring heavy snow to southern
  New England Sunday into Monday, but specific details are
  uncertain.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...A weak clipper system brings some light snow to the
higher terrain areas and light rain for the coastal plain tonight.

Latest suite of model guidance has come into better agreement with
respect to precipitation amounts associated with a weak Clipper
system moving over The Northeast this evening. QPF amounts currently
consistently coming in between 0.05 to 0.15 " of liquid across most
of southern New England. Interior MA, RI, and CT will be cold enough
to support snow. Accumulations will be minimal with only a coating
to an inch forecast. Some locations over the higher terrain of The
Worcester Hills may see as much as 2 inches. Further south and east
across the coastal plain, temperatures will be more marginal, so
expect rain mixing in after midnight. This will result in little to
no accumulations for these areas. South coast, southern RI, and
Cape/Islands should only expect rainfall given overnight
temperatures in the mid to upper 30s.

KEY MESSAGE 2...Temperatures surge above normal Thursday with gusty
winds 25-35 mph.

Moderate south/southwest winds develop Thursday morning and persist
through Thursday evening. This will support low-level WAA which will
allow 925 hPa temps to warm to between -3 and 1 degree C. This will
be an increase of 5 to 10 degrees C from Wednesday afternoon. Thus,
expect warmer afternoon temps on Thursday in the upper 30s to low
40s under partly cloudy skies. Sunshine should support enough
surface heating for efficient diurnal mixing. As a result we could
see gusty winds at times with gusts between 20 and 30 mph
possible.

KEY MESSAGE 3... Arctic front moves through late Fri into Fri
evening, bringing dangerously cold wind chills Fri night into
Sat night. Low risk for a few snow showers or squalls with the
passage of the front.

Arctic front will be dropping south into SNE Fri afternoon and
reaching the south coast by evening. While mod els are not
showing much if any QPF, the signals in the guidance suggest
there could be a few snow showers or squalls with the arctic
front passage. There is an area of enhanced moisture and lift
along the boundary as well as steep low level lapse rates. This
suggests a few snow showers or squalls will be possible
although areal coverage will be limited. Something to watch as
we approach Friday.

The bigger issue will be the arctic air that pours into the region
Fri night into Sat on gusty NW winds. 850 mb temps bottom out
around -25C late Fri night and early Sat before slowly moderating
during Sat. Lows Fri night will drop to zero to -5F over the
higher terrain and single numbers elsewhere. Highs Sat will only
reach the single numbers higher terrain and low to mid teens in
the coastal plain. The strong cold advection will be accompanied
by strong wind gusts Fri night as soundings show potential for
a few gusts to 35-45 mph. The gusty winds and arctic cold will
result in wind chills of -10 to -20F across much of SNE late
Fri night and early Sat, recovering to only -10 to +5F during
Sat afternoon. Another very cold night Sat night with lows zero
to 10 above but winds will be less of a factor.

Additionally, the combination of gusty winds and very cold air
will produce widespread moderate freezing spray on the waters
FrI night into Sat night with low risk for heavy freezing
spray.

KEY MESSAGE 4... A significant winter storm may bring heavy
snow to southern New England Sunday into Monday, but specific
details are uncertain.

The northward trend in the guidance continues resulting in
increasing confidence for a significant winter storm. Despite
the northward trend, there is still a fair amount of track
spread in the ensemble guidance with the EC members furthest
north and GFS members on the southern edge of the guidance
envelope. In fact, there are almost as many EC members north of
the benchmark as there are to the south while most GFS members
are south of the benchmark. As a result it is best that we
remain probabilistic as this is still a day 4-5 event and it
will likely change going forward.

Using the 25th percentile snowfall as a low end suggests at
least advisory snowfall near the south coast, while the 75-90th
percentile would indicate potential for a major snowstorm for
SNE. These snowfall accums are based on 10:1 ratio. Given deep
cold air in place, higher ratios are certainly likely but we
can't just assume it'll be a 15-20:1 ratio as this depends on
deep saturation and strong omega through the snow growth region
for getting dendrites and achieving these higher ratios. And
these are details that can't be determined in a day 4-5
forecast. I do think it is fair to assume a 12-15:1 ratio as a
preliminary estimate. So based on all this we have high
confidence of at least an advisory event in SNE, especially
near the coast, with a risk of a major snowstorm for SNE if
this northward trend locks in. Interesting that the ProbWSSI is
showing high probs (90%) of moderate impacts which aligns
closely to winter storm watch/warning criteria, and moderate
probs (50-60%) of major impacts. This is based on a WPC 60
member ensemble from the latest model cycle so this will change
with updated guidance.

So what can go wrong? This is a day 4-5 event and snowfall in
SNE is very track dependent which can't be determined with high
confidence at this time range. I would expect wobbles in track
going forward and these wobbles can result in significant
changes in impacts. Also, there is a lot cold dry air to the
north which makes us susceptible to snowfall gradients on the
northern edge if storm wobbles southward aND it does appear we
could be near that gradient. So probably won't be able to lock
in to a forecast with confidence until Friday.

So bottom line, while there is certainly a risk of a major
snowstorm for SNE this is a day 4-5 forecast and a subtle shift
back to the south would keep the significant impacts to the
south.

Timing wise, it appears snow could develop by Sun morning with
heaviest snow expected in the afternoon and Sunday night.
Heaviest snow should be over by Monday, however strong upper
trough and shortwave approaches from the west with inverted
trough at the surface and deep moisture in place so expect light
snow to continue for much of Monday with additional minor
accums.

Beyond Monday, well below normal temps will continue with
arctic air remaining in place.

&&

.AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

Today: High Confidence.

-RA/SN clears out between 06-09Z from west to east. Conditions
 improve to VFR with SW winds gusting up to 25 kts.

Thursday Night: High Confidence.

VFR. Light west winds, 5-10 knots. Except the Cape and Islands
remain gusty through the night.

Friday: High Confidence.

VFR. WSW winds around 10 knots steadily increase through the
morning. Gusts 25-30 knots by the afternoon.

KBOS Terminal...High Confidence.

Lingering -RASN and MVFR cigs through 08-09z with conditions
improving to VFR 09-10z. Gusts up to 25 knots likely through the
afternoon before calming tonight.

KBDL Terminal...High Confidence.

Lingering -SN through 08-09z with improving conditions 09-10z.
Gusts up to 25 knots likely through the afternoon before calming
tonight.

Outlook /Friday Night through Monday/...

Friday Night: VFR. Windy with gusts up to 30 kt.

Saturday: VFR. Windy with local gusts up to 30 kt.

Saturday Night: VFR. Breezy. Slight chance SN.

Sunday: Mainly VFR, with areas IFR possible. Breezy. Chance SN.

Sunday Night: Mainly IFR, with areas MVFR possible. Windy with
local gusts up to 30 kt. SN likely.

Monday: MVFR/IFR conditions possible. Breezy. SN likely.

&&

.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

Tonight through Thursday Night

Winds increase out of the west/southwest tonight with sustained
wind between 10 and 20 knots over the coastal waters with gusts
between 20 and 30 knots. These winds will support SCY criteria
through Friday morning. Seas tonight into tomorrow will be 6-8
feet over the outer marine zones and 3-5 feet for the near-shore
zones. Expect seas to gradually subside to 2-5 feet over all
the marine zones between Thursday night and Friday morning.

Outlook /Friday Night through Monday/...

Friday Night: Strong winds with gusts up to 35 kt. Areas of
rough seas. Freezing spray, slight chance of snow.

Saturday: Moderate risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with
gusts up to 30 kt. Areas of rough seas. Freezing spray.

Saturday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of seas
approaching 5 ft. Chance of snow.

Sunday: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up
to 30 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft. Snow likely, freezing
spray. Visibility 1 nm or less.

Sunday Night: Strong winds with gusts up to 35 kt. Seas up to
5 ft. Snow likely, freezing spray. Visibility 1 nm or less.

Monday: Moderate risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts
up to 30 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Chance of snow, freezing spray.
Local visibility 1 nm or less.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...None.
MA...Extreme Cold Watch from Friday evening through Saturday
     afternoon for MAZ002-008-009.
RI...None.
MARINE...Gale Watch from Friday evening through Saturday morning for
     ANZ231>235-237-250-251-254>256.
     Small Craft Advisory until 7 PM EST this evening for ANZ232-
     233-235-237-250-254>256.

&&

DISCUSSION...BW/McMinn
AVIATION...McMinn
MARINE...McMinn

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1035 PM EST Wed Jan 21 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0914 PM     Snow             2 E Berlin              41.62N 72.72W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

0930 PM     Snow             Staffordville           41.99N 72.26W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Tolland            CT   Trained Spotter

0942 PM     Snow             Rocky Hill              41.67N 72.64W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

0943 PM     Snow             Southington             41.60N 72.88W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

1000 PM     Snow             3 SW West Hartford      41.73N 72.78W
01/21/2026  M0.8 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

1020 PM     Snow             1 NE Wethersfield       41.71N 72.66W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Hartford           CT   Amateur Radio

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1238 AM EST Thu Jan 22 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

1050 PM     Snow             1 NW Sterling           42.44N 71.76W
01/21/2026  M1.5 Inch        Worcester          MA   Trained Spotter

1052 PM     Snow             Windsor                 41.85N 72.64W
01/21/2026  M1.5 Inch        Hartford           CT   Amateur Radio

1058 PM     Snow             Warren                  42.22N 72.19W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Worcester          MA   Emergency Mngr

1059 PM     Snow             1 NE Lunenburg          42.60N 71.72W
01/21/2026  M2.0 Inch        Worcester          MA   Amateur Radio

1100 PM     Snow             1 SE Marlborough        41.62N 72.44W
01/21/2026  M1.5 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

1101 PM     Snow             2 E Fitchburg           42.60N 71.78W
01/21/2026  M2.0 Inch        Worcester          MA   Amateur Radio

1107 PM     Snow             Shrewsbury              42.30N 71.71W
01/21/2026  M1.3 Inch        Worcester          MA   Trained Spotter

1111 PM     Snow             1 SW Lexington          42.44N 71.24W
01/21/2026  M0.6 Inch        Middlesex          MA   Trained Spotter

1123 PM     Snow             Southington             41.60N 72.88W
01/21/2026  M1.3 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

1145 PM     Snow             1 SE Simsbury           41.88N 72.80W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

1200 AM     Snow             Worcester AP            42.27N 71.88W
01/22/2026  M1.3 Inch        Worcester          MA   Official NWS Obs

1200 AM     Rain             1 SW Coventry           41.77N 72.31W
01/22/2026  M1.50 Inch       Tolland            CT   Trained Spotter

1202 AM     Snow             3 E Ludlow              42.18N 72.42W
01/22/2026  M1.5 Inch        Hampden            MA   Public

1225 AM     Snow             1 W Medford             42.43N 71.13W
01/22/2026  M0.6 Inch        Middlesex          MA   Public

1237 AM     Snow             Stow                    42.43N 71.50W
01/22/2026  M2.5 Inch        Middlesex          MA   Broadcast Media

&&

Preliminary Local Storm Report...Summary
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
1239 AM EST Thu Jan 22 2026

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0914 PM     Snow             2 E Berlin              41.62N 72.72W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

0930 PM     Snow             Staffordville           41.99N 72.26W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Tolland            CT   Trained Spotter

0942 PM     Snow             Rocky Hill              41.67N 72.64W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

0943 PM     Snow             Southington             41.60N 72.88W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

1000 PM     Snow             3 SW West Hartford      41.73N 72.78W
01/21/2026  M0.8 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

1020 PM     Snow             1 NE Wethersfield       41.71N 72.66W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Hartford           CT   Amateur Radio

1050 PM     Snow             1 NW Sterling           42.44N 71.76W
01/21/2026  M1.5 Inch        Worcester          MA   Trained Spotter

1052 PM     Snow             Windsor                 41.85N 72.64W
01/21/2026  M1.5 Inch        Hartford           CT   Amateur Radio

1058 PM     Snow             Warren                  42.22N 72.19W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Worcester          MA   Emergency Mngr

1059 PM     Snow             1 NE Lunenburg          42.60N 71.72W
01/21/2026  M2.0 Inch        Worcester          MA   Amateur Radio

1100 PM     Snow             1 SE Marlborough        41.62N 72.44W
01/21/2026  M1.5 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

1101 PM     Snow             2 E Fitchburg           42.60N 71.78W
01/21/2026  M2.0 Inch        Worcester          MA   Amateur Radio

1107 PM     Snow             Shrewsbury              42.30N 71.71W
01/21/2026  M1.3 Inch        Worcester          MA   Trained Spotter

1111 PM     Snow             1 SW Lexington          42.44N 71.24W
01/21/2026  M0.6 Inch        Middlesex          MA   Trained Spotter

1123 PM     Snow             Southington             41.60N 72.88W
01/21/2026  M1.3 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

1145 PM     Snow             1 SE Simsbury           41.88N 72.80W
01/21/2026  M1.0 Inch        Hartford           CT   Trained Spotter

1200 AM     Rain             1 SW Coventry           41.77N 72.31W
01/22/2026  M1.50 Inch       Tolland            CT   Trained Spotter

1200 AM     Snow             Worcester AP            42.27N 71.88W
01/22/2026  M1.3 Inch        Worcester          MA   Official NWS Obs

1202 AM     Snow             3 E Ludlow              42.18N 72.42W
01/22/2026  M1.5 Inch        Hampden            MA   Public

1225 AM     Snow             1 W Medford             42.43N 71.13W
01/22/2026  M0.6 Inch        Middlesex          MA   Public

1237 AM     Snow             Stow                    42.43N 71.50W
01/22/2026  M2.5 Inch        Middlesex          MA   Broadcast Media

&&