Honestly, if you’re looking at the sky in Boston today, you know the drill. It’s mid-January. The air has that specific New England bite that feels like it’s trying to personally offend your face. But this week is shaping up to be a bit more of a "classic" winter mess than the mild fluctuations we sometimes see.
Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, is basically the opening act of a very cold, very white drama. We’re currently sitting at 35°F with a northeast wind that’s surprisingly calm at 3 mph, but don't let that fool you. The humidity is pinned at 88%, and the clouds are thick enough to feel like a ceiling.
The Sunday Snow Situation
The big news right now is the heavy snow storm currently rolling through. While the high is 36°F, it’s going to feel much rawer as the day progresses. If you’re one of the thousands of people worried about the Patriots playoff game against the Texans, you’ve probably been refreshing your weather app every ten minutes.
Here is the deal with the timing.
Throughout the afternoon, we’re seeing light rain and snow showers that aren't doing much to the roads yet. But between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., the snow starts to really anchor itself over southeast Massachusetts. If you’re tailgating, you’re getting hit. By kickoff, it’s falling steadily. The real "brunt" of it—the stuff that makes you regret leaving the house—hits between 7 p.m. and midnight. That’s when most of the 3 to 6 inches of accumulation will happen for Boston and the I-495 corridor.
It’s going to be "pasty" snow. That’s the technical term—okay, maybe not technical, but it’s what we call that wet, heavy slush that ruins your back when you shovel it. Since the temperature is hovering right near 32°F, it’s going to be a heavy lift.
Looking Ahead: The Rest of the Week
Monday morning is going to be a mess. You’ve likely got a re-whitening of the roads to deal with before 10 a.m. even though the main storm will have exited off the coast by 6 a.m.
Weather for this week in Boston doesn't just stop with the snow, though.
Monday, January 19, which is MLK Day, will see some scattered flurries in the morning before we get a bit of a break with partly sunny skies in the afternoon. It’s going to be cold, though. We’re talking a high of 30°F and a low of 15°F.
The rest of the week looks like a rollercoaster:
- Tuesday: We’re looking at a high of 28°F and a low of 17°F. Some light snow might creep back in late.
- Wednesday: A slight "warm" up to 34°F. Increasing clouds, but mostly dry.
- Thursday: This is the outlier. We might actually hit 43°F. It’ll feel like a heatwave compared to Sunday, but it’ll probably just turn everything into a slushy, grey puddle before light snow returns late at night.
- Friday: Back down to the 20s. High of 28°F, low of 17°F.
Why Boston Weather is So Weird Right Now
People always ask why we get these back-to-back hits. It’s the "wintry double-header" effect. We have two separate storm systems moving through the region. The first one on Saturday was mostly a rain-snow mix for the city, but this second one today has enough cold air behind it to make it stick.
Interestingly, while we're freezing here, a rare snow event just hit the Florida Panhandle this morning. It’s the second year in a row for them, which is wild. But back in Boston, we’re dealing with the standard continental climate reality—it’s just going to be frigid.
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Surviving the Slush
If you are heading out to shovel on Monday morning, take it slow. This isn't the light, fluffy "powder" you see in movies. It’s the heavy, water-logged stuff.
Also, keep an eye on the wind. While it’s calm now, we usually average about 14.7 mph in January, making it the windiest month of the year in the city. That wind chill is what really gets you once the sun goes down.
Basically, keep the boots by the door. You’re going to need them through at least Friday.
Next Steps for You:
- Check your local DPW schedule, as Monday's holiday might affect when the plows hit side streets in your neighborhood.
- If you're driving home from the Patriots game tonight, give yourself double the usual travel time; the heaviest accumulation is timed exactly for the post-game commute.
- Salt your walkways tonight before the temperature drops to 30°F to prevent the wet snow from turning into a sheet of ice by morning.