Amid a week of frigid nights in Massachusetts, Thursday night is predicted to be the most chilling. Below-zero temperatures and double-digit wind chills are expected in many communities, according to the National Weather Service.
How low can you go?
An arctic air mass is set to drive temperatures down into the single digits in Eastern Massachusetts and below zero in Central and Western Massachusetts Thursday night, according to the weather service. Temperatures in the Berkshires could get as low as -8 degrees.
But the air outside will feel even colder early Friday morning, according to the weather service. Eastern Massachusetts cities can expect wind chills between -10 and -13 degrees, while Worcester and Springfield are predicted to see wind chill values around -15 degrees.
Wind chills values could get as low as -25 degrees at higher elevations, according to the weather service. Pittsfield is predicted to experience wind chills as low as -21 degrees.
An extreme cold warning is in effect for Berkshire County until 11 a.m. Friday. During this time, wind chills between -20 and -29 degrees are expected, and exposed skin could become frostbitten in as little as 30 minutes, according to the weather service.
The rest of the state is under a cold weather advisory that will expire at the same time on Friday.
Continuing cold weather
Friday is expected to be sunny, but high temperatures aren’t predicted to rise above the mid teens across the state, according to the weather service. Temperatures are then expected to drop below zero in most communities Friday night, and Western Massachusetts could see temperatures as low as -7 degrees.
Wind chill values will again reach a low point early Saturday morning, according to the weather service. Gloucester, New Bedford and Springfield can expect wind chills around -8 degrees, while Boston and Lowell can expect values around -11 degrees, and Worcester and Pittsfield can expect wind chills around -15 degrees.
Highs in the upper teens and mostly sunny skies are predicted across Massachusetts on Saturday, according to the weather service. Overnight lows in the single digits are expected Saturday night, and there is a slight chance of snow in Eastern Massachusetts.
A ‘bomb cyclone’ snowstorm?
A ‘bomb cyclone’ snowstorm could bring accumulating snow and gusty winds to Cape Cod, the Islands and further west into South Shore and the I-95 corridor as it passes by the Massachusetts coast on Sunday, according to the weather service. But as of Thursday afternoon, weather models suggest the rest of the state is unlikely to be significantly impacted.
The weather service has issued a winter storm watch for the Cape and Islands that is set to go into effect late Saturday night and last through late Sunday night. During this time, communities in these areas could get 6 inches of snow or more and wind gusts up to 55 mph.
There is still a chance the storm could change its track and wreak havoc on more of the state, according to the weather service. Massachusetts residents are advised to keep checking the forecast over the weekend in case expected storm impacts change.
https://www.masslive.com/weather/2026/01/a-bomb-cyclone-may-be-coming-to-mass-this-weekend-what-is-it.html
