Significant Weather Blog: Saturday, February 7, 2026 10 AM

Significant Snow and Cold this Weekend

 Update

The factors noted below on yesterday’s message appear to be in play and have increased confidence of a general 4 to 6-inch snowfall (of the fluffy variety) across RI as well as east central and eastern MA.  Within this area expect a few areas of still higher amounts of 6 to 8 inches, especially northeast MA (Essex County) and RI (but cannot rule out other spots in east central and eastern MA).  Lesser amounts are anticipated heading into western MA and most of CT (away from the RI border).

Snow

This is an interesting meteorological set up.  A high amplitude upper level trough drops southward through eastern New York/western New England and even closes off for a time south of New England this afternoon.  At the surface, a clipper type low pressure center along an arctic cold front approaches western New England and then redevelops offshore south and southeast of New England.  A signal showing up for a few days (but seemingly even more strongly on last night’s runs) is for an inverted trough extending north from the offshore low center into southern New England.  The location of where this mesoscale inverted surface trough sets up is uncertain, although suspect it will be somewhere in central or eastern portions of southern New England.  This surface inverted trough will provide a source of moisture convergence resulting in enhanced snowfall.  In addition, along and near the MA east coast, there will likely be embedded bands of ocean effect snow – another factor that could produce locally enhanced snowfall.  If the inverted surface trough should set up over eastern MA, then there could be still more enhanced moisture convergence from the combination of the snow bands converging into the trough.  And if all of that isn’t enough, the leading edge of arctic air moving west to east across southern New England on Saturday could produce locally heavy embedded snow squalls with short term but very intense snow rates, especially over the eastern half of southern New England.

The National Weather Service local office produced an informative and thorough area forecast discussion on this situation.  In addition to the factors noted above, it was mentioned that there are signs of deepening moisture over the dendritic snow growth region with fairly significant uplift.  This would favor significant accumulation rates with a fluffy texture to the snow.

From a timing perspective, the snow will likely taper off to flurries over western MA and most of CT this afternoon and then probably by early evening across central MA and eastern MA back from the coast.  Ocean effect snow showers will likely linger through this evening along the MA east coast from Cape Ann to Plymouth and to at least Sunday morning across the Cape and Nantucket.  There could be a period of heavier ocean effect snow showers over the outer Cape tonight before moving offshore sometime Sunday morning.

The forecasting of amounts is tricky since mesoscale influences (e.g. the inverted surface trough, embedded ocean effect snow bands, embedded snow squalls, etc.) will likely cause considerable variation in final storm totals across southern New England.  With that important caveat, anticipate a widespread snowfall of 2 to 4 inches across western MA and CT (including the CT River Valley).  Further east across RI, central and eastern MA, and far eastern CT,  believe there will be a widespread 3 to 6 inches of fluffy snow with localized areas of higher amounts on the order of 6 to 8 inches.  For at least most of the eastern half of southern New England, this will be a plowable snow with significant travel impacts for much of today.

Cold

An Extreme Cold Warning issued by the National Weather Service is in effect for western and central MA as well as CT for tonight through Sunday morning.  Cold Weather Advisories are in effect for the rest of southern New England.  Very cold temperatures will be accompanied by northerly wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph this evening into Sunday to produce wind chills well below zero.  Across the higher terrain of western and central Massachusetts, wind chill values of 20 to 30 below are likely tonight into Sunday morning.  Elsewhere, including Boston and Providence, wind chills of 15 to 20 below can be expected tonight into Sunday morning.  These are dangerous wind chills that can initiate frostbite on skin that’s exposed only for minutes.

Next Message

This will likely be the last message on this event as it is now well underway.  Will issue the regular weekly significant weather outlook on Monday.

About this Blog and Disclaimer

The National Weather Service monitors the weather 24/7 and updates forecasts, watches, and warnings as necessary.  For most of southern New England, refer to your local Weather Forecast Office for the latest forecast/warning information at weather.gov/box.  For information from other Weather Forecast Offices, go to weather.gov and click on the location of interest on the map.

A blog is issued when there is a potential risk of hazardous weather to southern New England and serves to provide background information regarding the significant weather with somewhat of an educational slant.  In the case of hurricanes, the author will attempt to issue a message when any portion of the United States coastline may be seriously impacted.  It’s intended to complement and not serve as an alternative to official forecasts issued by the National Weather Service.  Readers are urged to check National Weather Service forecasts and warnings for the most timely and updated weather information.  This weather message is solely produced by the listed author and does not constitute an official product of the Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center (BHOSC).

The frequency of this blog will depend upon the nature of the weather threat and availability of the author.  Thus, for the latest information on weather forecasts and warnings, refer to the National Weather Service, which monitors and forecasts the weather 24/7.
 

Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center (BHOSC)

The BHOSC maintains a continuous daily observation record that dates from February 1, 1885 without interruption and provides educational information on weather and climate to area students and the community at large.  Your support of BHOSC is much appreciated and enables this nonprofit organization to maintain the long-term climate record at the Blue Hill Observatory (longest continuous record in North America) and provide valuable educational resources on weather and climate via outreach to schools, site visits/tours, webinars, and conferences.  For more information on the Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center, explore bluehill.org.

Message issued February 7, 2026 by:
Bob Thompson
Retired National Weather Service Meteorologist
Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center Board member