If you woke up today looking for a winter wonderland outside your window in Boston, you probably felt a bit let down. Instead of a thick blanket of white, most of the coast is dealing with a messy, cold rain that makes you want to crawl back under the covers. But drive just forty-five minutes west toward Worcester or up into the Berkshires, and it’s a completely different story.
The snowfall totals Massachusetts today are all over the place. We’re basically dealing with a "tale of two states" scenario. While the I-95 corridor is dodging the flakes, the interior hills are getting a steady accumulation that actually requires a shovel.
It’s January 17, 2026, and this is the first half of a back-to-back weekend special. Honestly, these "clipper-style" systems are notorious for being finicky. A five-degree difference in temperature at 3,000 feet is currently the only thing standing between a slushy driveway and a legitimate snow day.
The Big Winners: Where the Snow is Actually Sticking
If you’re looking for the "jackpot" zones, you have to look toward the high ground. Western Massachusetts and the northern Worcester hills are seeing the most action so far.
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According to the latest National Weather Service reports and local spotters, East Hawley is currently leading the pack with nearly 10 inches on the ground. Westhampton isn't far behind, clocking in at 7 inches. For these towns, it’s a full-on winter event.
Current Accumulation Reports (As of Mid-Day)
- East Hawley: 9.9 inches
- Westhampton: 7.0 inches
- Fitchburg: 6.7 inches
- Sterling: 6.0 inches
- Worcester: 5.5 inches
- Southwick: 5.4 inches
- Athol: 5.0 inches
You’ve probably noticed that once you get inside the I-495 loop, those numbers drop off a cliff. Boston is currently sitting at a "coating to an inch" at best, mostly because the ocean air is too warm to let the snow survive the trip down to the pavement. It’s mostly just a cold, raw rain for the city dwellers today.
Why the Forecast Kept Shifting
Meteorologists like Tucker Antico have been tracking this thing for days, and the "rain-snow line" has been the ultimate villain. This line is essentially an invisible boundary where the atmosphere is just warm enough to melt snowflakes into raindrops.
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Today, that line is draped right over the eastern part of the state.
If you live in Braintree or Quincy, you’re probably seeing 38°F and rain. If you’re in Paxton, it’s 31°F and dumping snow. That narrow temperature window is why your weather app might have promised you four inches yesterday but is showing a puddle today.
The air coming off the Atlantic is currently around 40-42°F. That’s plenty of heat to kill a snowstorm before it reaches the Hub. However, the elevation in the Worcester Hills acts like a natural shield, keeping the colder air trapped and allowing the snow to pile up.
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Looking Ahead: Round Two and the Patriots Game
Don't put the shovel away just because today's system is exiting by 7:00 PM. We have a second, potentially more impactful storm rolling in Sunday.
This second wave is trending a bit further inland. For those heading to Foxborough for the Patriots vs. Houston Texans playoff game tomorrow, things could get interesting. Kickoff is at 3:00 PM, and while the morning might start quiet, snow is expected to pick up during the game.
Current models suggest Sunday could drop another 1 to 5 inches across southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This is a bit of a reversal from today, where the southeast was the "dry" spot. Basically, everyone gets a turn this weekend.
Actionable Steps for the Next 24 Hours
- Clear the slush tonight: Temperatures are expected to plummet into the 20s by Monday morning. Anything you don’t shovel or squeegee off your driveway tonight will turn into a solid sheet of "concrete ice" by tomorrow.
- Monitor the Sunday commute: If you are traveling for the MLK holiday weekend, Sunday afternoon looks like the messiest window for the Mass Pike and I-95.
- Check your salt supply: With a second round coming Sunday and a "biting wind" forecast for Monday, pre-treating your walkways tonight could save you a lot of grief.
- Watch the wind: Monday will bring highs only in the low 30s with a wind chill that will make it feel like the teens.
The snowfall totals Massachusetts today are just the opening act. While the Berkshires are enjoying the 10-inch totals, the rest of the state should prepare for a slick, icy transition as we head into Sunday’s system and the subsequent deep freeze. Stay off the roads this evening if you're in the Worcester area, as visibility is dropping fast with the wrap-around moisture.