Weather in and around Boston will be seasonable but calm to start the New Year, with mostly dry days ahead and just a slight chance of rain and snow forecast for Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
NWS Meteorologist Andrew Loconto told the Herald that clouds lingering over the region since Christmas will remain in place through Monday, when temperatures will be slightly above normal for New Year’s Day.
“High temperatures will be closer to the high 30s or lower 40s. That’s warm for the first day of the new year. Typically for the Boston area, high temperatures are around the upper 30s with lows in the middle 20s. So that’s warm for this time of year,” he said. “Overall, things are more or less tranquil for the next three or four days.”
Winds will be calm Monday, though enough to clear the sky of clouds by evening, when temperatures will begin to fall to around 20 degrees.
Sunny skies should send the mercury back into the 40s by Tuesday afternoon, and the clouds are expected to stay away through the evening. Overnight lows on Tuesday will likely fall back into the middle 20s.
Wednesday’s weather is more of the same, though it could reach the middle 40s by the end of the day. A slight breeze could also bring clouds back into the region by evening, and overnight lows are expected to fall below freezing and into the upper 20s.
There is some chance of rain that turns to snow developing after 2 p.m. on Thursday, Loconto said, though at present the chances of precipitation are estimated at around 30%.
With temperatures forecast to approach 40 degrees on Thursday, any snow that does fall is unlikely to stick to the ground after sunrise on Friday, according to Loconto.
“It’s just been so mild lately. It will take some time for the ground to cool enough for any accumulation,” he said.
Freezing temperatures overnight Thursday lead to a chilly Friday morning, when despite forecasted sun the temperature is expected to reach no higher than the middle 30s, according to the weather service.
An as yet undeveloped storm system could move into the region by Sunday, Loconto said, but from the look of things the weekend is set to be mostly dry, if a bit chilly.
“It looks like Friday and Saturday, as of right now, look dry and rather seasonable. Temperatures generally in the 30s,” he said. “The more active weather may come in around Sunday, but that’s still to be determined.”