Significant Weather Blog: Thursday, February 5, 2026 6 PM
Dangerous Cold Saturday Night and Sunday Preceded by Some Snow on Saturday
An Extreme Cold Watch has been issued by the National Weather Service from Saturday evening to Sunday afternoon for western and central Massachusetts and all of Connecticut. Very cold temperatures will be accompanied by relatively strong winds to produce dangerous wind chills. Leading into this arctic blast will be a light or possibly light to moderate snow event on Saturday persisting into Saturday night for east coastal areas.
Snow
Although a big snow storm is not expected, this is a rather complex situation with multiple moving parts with the possibility that snowfall could end up being quite variable across southern New England. A clipper low pressure system along an arctic cold front will approach southern New England late Friday night. The low pressure system will reform offshore south or southeast of southern New England but likely have an inverted surface trough extending somewhere into southern New England. All numerical weather prediction models depict or at least show a hint of a surface inverted trough extending from a developing low pressure center offshore to the south and southeast of southern New England. As we approach late Saturday afternoon/evening, ocean effect snow bands along the MA east coast may provide locally enhanced snowfall. Ocean effect snow bands may linger over the Cape throughout Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Across interior southern New England, a widespread 1 to 3-inch snowfall is expected starting very late Friday night and continuing through most of Saturday. That inverted surface trough may produce locally higher amounts (possibly 3 to 5 inches), but it’s not possible to pinpoint where that inverted surface trough will set up. In addition, the leading edge of arctic air pouring into the region may cause a few heavy snow squalls.
Along the MA east coast (including the Cape and Islands), light overall snow may be accompanied by heavier ocean effect snow bands with possibly some convergence enhancing snow over interior eastern MA. Am thinking that most of eastern MA will receive 2 to 4 inches but there could be locally a few higher amounts in any heavy ocean effect snow bands. This area, too, may experience a snow squall or two from the arctic front passage as well as possibly some influence from that inverted trough (not knowing where it will likely set up). Ocean effect snow bands will likely linger through Saturday evening from Cape Ann through Plymouth and may persist over the Cape (especially outer Cape) into Sunday.
Cold
Very cold temperatures will be accompanied by northerly wind gusts late Saturday afternoon 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 Saturday night into Sunday morning. Elsewhere, including Boston and Providence, wind chills of 10 to 20 below can be expected Saturday night into Sunday morning. These are dangerous wind chills that can initiate frostbite on skin that’s exposed only for minutes.
Next Message
Will monitor this weather situation and update on Friday if conditions warrant. Will also be issuing 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 5, 2026 by:
Bob Thompson
Retired National Weather Service Meteorologist
Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center Board member
