Massachusetts residents can expect a cold but dry Sunday before a significant arctic front moves through overnight, signaling the start of a frigid week.
Sunday is expected to deliver a mix of sun and clouds throughout the day, according to the National Weather Service. Light northwest winds will blow for much of the day, keeping conditions chilly as high temperatures settle in the mid-30s for most areas.
The Cape and Islands will see a slightly warmer relief, with highs reaching the low 40s. A brief period of clearing is expected during the mid-morning hours before clouds increase again in the afternoon ahead of an approaching cold front.
The city of Boston will experience more clouds throughout the day after a cooler start. Residents can anticipate a high temperature of 37 degrees before conditions turn sharply colder Sunday night, with the low dropping to 21 degrees as arctic air begins to settle.
Pittsfield will be the coldest region on Sunday, with mostly cloudy skies and a high only reaching 33 degrees. The night will be the coldest yet, as temperatures plummet to a frigid low of 12 degrees under the influence of the arctic front.
People in Springfield can expect partly sunny skies Sunday, pushing the high temperature to 37 degrees. As the arctic air sweeps in, the night will be significantly colder, with the low dropping to 18 degrees.
Central Massachusetts will see increasing clouds through Sunday, with the high temperature matching other interior locations at 37 degrees. The overnight low is forecast to drop sharply to 18 degrees, providing an early taste of the prolonged arctic chill.
As night calls, the true arctic blast begins its approach. This cold front is forecast to move through overnight into Monday morning, bringing a slight chance of scattered snow showers, primarily affecting northern Massachusetts. However, most areas will see little to no accumulation, forecasters said.
Temperatures are expected to plummet dramatically overnight on Sunday into the mid to upper teens for most locations. Even the slightly warmer coastal areas of the Cape and Islands will see lows only in the lower 20s.
Monday is projected to usher in the full impact of the arctic air mass, with high temperatures struggling to rise above the 20s and low 30s, even under sunny skies.
Northwest winds on Monday will pick up considerably behind the front, with gusts between 20 and 30 mph throughout the day. These gusty winds will create noticeably colder wind chills, making it feel truly frigid.
Small craft advisories have been issued starting at 1 a.m. on Monday, warning boaters of gusty northwest winds and building seas, which could reach 5 to 7 feet in outer waters.
The intense cold is supposed to be short-lived, with a gradual warming trend expected to begin on Tuesday, bringing temperatures back to normal.
