Boston is a mood. Honestly, if you've spent more than five minutes at a T-stop in January, you know the city doesn't just have weather; it has a personality. And right now, that personality is acting a bit bipolar.
The immediate vibe check
Today is Saturday, January 17, 2026. If you’re looking out the window right now, it’s probably looking a bit messy. We’re dealing with a rain and snow mix. The high is hitting 40°F, but don't let that "warmth" fool you. The humidity is sitting at 68%, and with a 12 mph wind coming from the southwest, it’s that damp, New England cold that gets right into your bones.
Basically, it's a "boots and a raincoat" kind of day, not a "heavy parka" one. Yet.
Breaking down the extended weather forecast boston ma
Looking ahead, the city is settling into a very classic, albeit slightly frustrating, winter pattern. Tomorrow, Sunday, January 18, is when things get a bit more "New England picturesque."
We're expecting light snow during the day with a high of 38°F. By nightfall, the temperature drops to 27°F, and the chance of snow jumps to 40%. If you’re heading to the Patriots game, yeah, it’s gonna be a "Snow Bowl" light. Meteorologists like Geoff Bansen are already calling for flakes to pick up as the game goes on.
The upcoming deep freeze
Monday is going to tease us. It’ll be mostly sunny with a high of 33°F. Seems nice, right? Wrong. It’s the calm before a legitimate Arctic slap.
Check this out:
- Tuesday (Jan 20): Full sun, but the high struggles to reach 24°F. The low? A biting 15°F.
- Wednesday (Jan 21): More clouds, maybe some snow showers at night, and another low of 15°F.
- Thursday (Jan 22): A weird warm-up to 39°F with more rain and snow mixed in.
It’s this constant seesaw. One day you’re dodging puddles of slush, the next you’re chipping three inches of solid ice off your windshield.
What the "experts" are actually saying
There's a lot of talk about this being a La Niña year. Usually, that means "warmer and wetter," but for Boston, it’s never that simple. NOAA and the Climate Prediction Center have been tracking a weak La Niña that's supposed to transition to "neutral" soon.
What does that actually mean for your commute?
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Basically, we’re seeing "stretched vortex events." That’s a fancy way of saying the polar vortex is wobbling. When it wobbles, it leaks Arctic air down the coast. Even if the average temperature for the month ends up being near normal, we're going to have these sharp, 48-hour windows where it feels like the Arctic Circle moved to Dorchester.
The snow total reality
People always ask: "Are we getting a blizzard?"
History says January is our snowiest month, averaging about 12.9 inches. So far in 2026, we’ve been nickeled and dimed with these 1-to-2-inch events. It’s annoying. It’s not enough to get a "snow day," but it’s just enough to make the Mass Pike a nightmare.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac and local guys like Terry Eliasen are watching the end of the month closely. While the next few days look like "nuisance snow," the pattern around January 25-26 is trending toward a more significant moisture fetch.
Surviving the Boston January
Look, the extended weather forecast boston ma shows we’re heading into a very cold stretch from January 25 through the 26th. We’re looking at highs only in the 20°F range and lows dipping toward 12°F.
If you're traveling into Logan or just trying to survive a walk across the Common, here's the deal:
- Layering isn't a suggestion: On Thursday the 22nd, you'll need waterproof gear for that rain-snow mix. By Friday, you'll need wind-blocking layers because the gusty west winds are going to make 30°F feel like 15°F.
- Watch the "W" winds: Notice a pattern in the forecast? The wind is shifting from southwest to west/northwest. That’s the "cold" direction. When you see a 16 mph west wind (like on Saturday the 24th), that’s when the wind chill becomes the real story.
- The Slush Factor: With highs hovering near 31°F and 40°F, the ground is going to stay messy. Salt your walkways now before the Tuesday freeze turns Sunday’s slush into concrete.
Honestly, Boston winters are a test of patience. The forecast is less about "will it snow?" and more about "how messy will the sidewalk be?" Stay warm out there, and maybe keep an extra pair of dry socks in your car. You're gonna need 'em.
Your next steps for the week
Check your antifreeze levels and make sure your ice scraper isn't snapped in half. With those 12°F and 15°F lows coming next week, any battery weakness in your car is going to show up fast. Also, keep an eye on the Sunday night snow totals; it might not be a blizzard, but it'll definitely be enough to make Monday morning's commute a headache.