Major New England Snowstorm Set To Bury Boston

Southern New England is bracing for a major snowstorm this weekend, with meteorologists warning of the region’s heaviest snowfall in nearly four years. The system, set to arrive Sunday, January 25, 2026, and linger through Monday, promises to blanket cities from Boston to Cape Cod in as much as 22 inches of snow, while plunging temperatures and gusty winds threaten to compound the chaos. For snow lovers, it’s the long-awaited return of winter’s drama; for everyone else, it’s shaping up to be a logistical nightmare.

According to The Boston Globe, the last time Boston saw a foot or more of snow in a single day was January 29, 2022, when a whopping 23.6 inches fell. While this weekend’s event may not break that record, forecasters agree it will be the most significant storm since then. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter storm warnings for most of New England, effective from Sunday morning through Monday, and is urging residents to prepare for “very difficult to impossible” travel conditions, especially across Massachusetts and Rhode Island where 10 to 16 inches of snow are expected.

What’s behind the brewing blizzard? The storm is forecast to track closely south of Boston, sliding along Long Island before exiting over Cape Cod. The snow will start mid-Sunday morning in Springfield and Hartford, then move eastward, reaching Boston, Providence, and Portland, Maine, later in the day. High pressure to the north should keep warmer air offshore, ensuring that this will be an all-snow event for most of the region.

Snowfall totals, as always, depend on which forecast you trust. The NWS predicts Greater Boston could see 16 to 22 inches, with the heaviest bands developing along the I-95 corridor. Cape Cod is expected to receive at least 6 inches, but some models suggest Hyannis could get up to 15 inches. The Weather Channel’s Jordan Steele told viewers that “the entire state of Massachusetts is expected to get at least 8 inches to a foot of snow this weekend,” with Boston possibly receiving between 11 and 19 inches by Monday afternoon. According to AccuWeather, there’s a 50% chance that Boston will get 10 to 15 inches, while some towns could see totals as high as 18 inches if the storm intensifies along the coast.

Across the state, forecasts show impressive numbers: Worcester could see between 14 and 23 inches, Springfield 11 to 19 inches, New Bedford 11 to 19 inches, and Gloucester 9 to 16 inches, according to The Weather Channel. For Cape Cod, the NWS high-end forecast calls for 15 inches in Hyannis, 12 inches on Martha’s Vineyard, 11 inches on Nantucket, and 17 inches in Provincetown.

Timing is everything with this storm. The NWS expects snow to begin falling in Massachusetts late Sunday morning, after 10 a.m. in Hyannis, Springfield, Lowell, New Bedford, and Plymouth, and after 11 a.m. in Worcester and Provincetown. In Boston, the snow should ramp up after noon, with winds gusting up to 26 mph that night. The heaviest snowfall is expected between 6 p.m. and midnight Sunday. By Monday, snow will taper off, but light snow showers could persist into the afternoon and evening, adding a few more inches to the totals and making cleanup efforts even more challenging.

Residents are being warned that travel could be treacherous, if not impossible, during the height of the storm. “Unplowed streets and highways will become packed with snow due to frigid conditions, and gusty winds will cause some blowing and drifting snow,” AccuWeather meteorologists cautioned. With temperatures ranging from the single digits to the low 20s and wind chills plunging below zero, even routine tasks like shoveling will require extra caution.

And it’s not just the snow that could cause problems. The Globe notes that wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph or higher are expected overnight Sunday into Monday, raising the risk of isolated power outages. While the snow is expected to be light and fluffy at first, increasing wind speeds could add weight to the snowpack and snap weak branches or power lines. There’s even a chance—however slim—of “thunder snow” in the heaviest bands overnight, a rare and dramatic phenomenon that only adds to the storm’s mystique.

One of the most challenging aspects for forecasters and residents alike is the variability caused by snow banding. When warm, moist air collides with cold, dry air, it can create narrow, intense bands of heavy snow, leading to town-to-town differences of up to six inches in accumulation. As The Globe explains, “Think of when you press your thumb on a hose. The result is heavy shots of snow over a small area.” This means some neighborhoods could be digging out from a foot of snow, while others just a few miles away are buried under nearly two feet.

Looking at the broader impact, this storm is part of a larger system that will affect more than half of the U.S. population as it moves from the South, up the Mid-Atlantic, and into the Northeast. The Weather Channel reports that while the storm will be windy, it likely won’t meet the technical criteria for a blizzard. Still, the combination of heavy snow, frigid air, and gusty winds will make for hazardous conditions across much of the region.

With so much uncertainty in the exact track and intensity of the storm, meteorologists are urging residents to stay informed and sign up for severe weather alerts. The Globe recommends enabling emergency notifications on smartphones and following local updates to keep abreast of any last-minute changes. For those interested in the bigger picture, a free public event on January 29 at 6 p.m. at the New England Aquarium will bring together weather and climate experts to discuss how climate change is reshaping New England’s seasons.

As the storm approaches, officials are preparing for widespread school closures, travel disruptions, and the possibility of power outages. For some, it’s a chance to hunker down with hot chocolate and watch the snow pile up. For others, it’s a reminder of how quickly winter can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

With forecasts converging on a major event and memories of past storms still fresh, New Englanders know better than to underestimate Mother Nature. By Monday evening, one thing is certain: the region will be digging out, swapping stories, and, perhaps, looking forward to the next big one—whenever it may come.