Massachusetts residents should brace for a sharp and significant temperature drop Sunday, as an arctic front is set to sweep through the state overnight.
The cold air front will pass through sometime between 8 p.m. on Sunday and 3 a.m. on Monday, according to the National Weather Service. It won’t bring much moisture, so it will be mostly dry.
In Boston, expect mostly cloudy skies Sunday evening with a high of 37 degrees, dropping to a low of 20 degrees. Cape and Islands will be overcast with a high of 40 degrees, falling to a low of 23 degrees by nightfall.
In Pittsfield, the high is 33 degrees under mostly cloudy skies, with a sharp drop to a very cold low of 11 degrees Sunday night.
Springfield will have a high of 38 degrees and a low of 17 degrees,
Worcester will reach a high of 37 degrees with the overnight low on Sunday reaching a frigid 17 degrees.
Monday will be a noticeably cold day across the entire state as the arctic air mass settles in. High temperatures will barely get out of the 20s, forecasters predict. Strong northwest winds, gusting 20 to 30 mph, will make it feel much colder, pushing wind child values down into the teens.
Northern Massachusetts might see a few brief, light snow showers that could leave a dusting on the ground in some spots.
Boaters should know that small craft advisories have been issues for coastal waters starting 1 a.m. on Monday and lasting through Monday afternoon.
The advisory for waters further out lasts until 1 a.m. Tuesday.
Waves are expected to get big, reaching 5 to 7 feet, with northwest winds gusting 23 to 34 mph.
Monday night will get considerably colder. With the wind calming down and clear skies, temperatures will crash. Inland areas, like Springfield and Western Massachusetts, will see lows drop into the single digits.
Near the coast, including Boston and the Cape and Islands, it will be slightly less cold, with lows still dropping into the low to mid-teens.
Temperatures will start to warm up a little on Tuesday, but temperatures will still be below average, the National Weather Service states. By Tuesday night, clouds will increase and there’s a chance of light snow, especially in the higher hills of Central and Western Massachusetts.
Wednesday will bring temperatures back to about normal. The weather will become more unsettled, with a mix of rain and snow possible. Rain is more likely in Eastern Massachusetts, while snow is more likely in the higher elevations to the west.
Winds will also pick up again, possibly gusting up to 30 mph. This active, changing weather will continue through the end of the week. Forecasters are watching for another return of colder air by next weekend.
