Massachusetts is about to be plunged into its coldest weekend of the winter, then hit by the biggest snowstorm of the season — potentially dumping up to 2 feet of snow in some areas — leaving residents with less than 48 hours to prepare.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has already declared a cold emergency and activated warming centers in the city, as an arctic front is set to send temperatures plummeting to the single digits on Friday night.
Temperatures will remain frigid through the weekend, dipping below zero in some areas of Western Massachusetts. Wind chill readings will hit minus 10 degrees in Boston on Saturday and Sunday.
By the time temperatures begin to warm on Sunday, a snowstorm will be hammering the state. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for the entire state beginning at 7 a.m. Sunday, with forecasts of 12 to 18 inches of snow across Massachusetts.
Other outlets put the accumulation as high as 2 feet across two full days of intense snow.
The storm is on track to be the biggest to hit the state since 2022, when a December storm left 19 inches of snow in some areas.
In Worcester, DPW Commissioner John Westerling told MassLive the department has received 44 new pieces of plow equipment since last year, when the city struggled to clear roads after a February 2025 snowstorm that dropped 8 inches in Central Massachusetts.
Still, Worcester residents like Angela Stockdale are skeptical the city will be able to keep pace with the volume produced by this weekend’s storm.
“We haven’t had this much snow in a long time and I can’t imagine the city is going to be able to clean up properly for a few days,” Stockdale told MassLive.
Some Massachusetts schools have already announced cancelations for Monday and Tuesday in advance of the heavy snowfall.
The National Weather Service has categorized the storm as a “major impact” event, meaning residents should expect “dangerous or impossible driving conditions.” The service is recommending people avoid travel if possible.
The storm is expected to severely disrupt air travel, as well. Twenty-four flights into and out of Boston Logan International Airport on Sunday have already been canceled, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flight disruptions.
The storm is expected to impact 19 states, with dangerously icy conditions presenting a considerable challenge for southern regions that are not properly equipped to handle a major winter-weather event. Dallas is expected to be hit by freezing rain and more than a quarter-inch of ice accumulation; 93 flights into and out of Dallas-Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field have been canceled for Sunday.
While Massachusetts will likely be spared from high winds and ice — and the wide-scale power outages that often come with those conditions — National Weather Service meteorologist Caitlyn Mensch recommends preparing as if the storm could do serious damage.
“It’s coming from a long way and it’s impacting a large part of the country,” Mensch said. “We don’t know how big the impact is going to be at this point, but (make) the usual preparations for any winter storm. Have a kit ready in case of any power outages.”