The third weekend of January, a long holiday break honoring Martin Luther King Jr., is going to feature a bit of a roller coaster in terms of temperatures, with the chilliest day on Friday followed by a slightly milder-than-average day on Saturday before seasonal conditions return on Sunday.
All of these temperature changes bring with them a small chance of precipitation, especially on Saturday afternoon and evening.
Although it’s been drier than normal, the larger weather pattern itself is actually somewhat active; it’s just that we are not underneath the most activity, locally. Late in the weekend, a coastal storm is likely to remain just too far offshore to influence our weather.
Friday: Sunny but brisk
Friday starts the weekend with a below-average temperature day coming on the heels of 9 above-average temperature days this month. Temperatures Friday afternoon will only reach near freezing, and with the breeze out of the west, it will feel like it’s in the teens and 20s most of the day. As a matter of fact, early risers could see wind chill values in the single digits.
Saturday: Warmer, some rain. Light snow in higher elevations
On Saturday, clouds will increase, and if there is a little bit of sunshine in the morning, it will fade quickly ahead of a little weather system. Those clouds could yield some rain or even a little bit of wet snow. It’s not out of the question that some higher elevations could receive a coating to an inch if temperatures cool off with the precipitation still in the area. No matter what, this is not a big deal.
Sunday: Cloudy in the 30s for Patriots game
On Sunday, we watch mostly cloudy skies continue with the thickest clouds over the Cape and islands, where there could be a snow shower. Temperatures will be in the 30s, just about near the 30-year average.
Although unlikely, if that coastal storm, which will pass offshore on Sunday, comes another hundred miles closer, New England could see a little bit of snow activity Sunday afternoon — just in time for the Patriots-Texans game at Gillette. This isn’t impossible, but right now, it’s not something that I’m putting officially in the forecast until we get more information.
If any forecast is going to change for the weekend it's going to be sunday. That ocean storm doesn't have to move west very much to impact us so we'll see what the overnight models do, but stay tuned to latest forecast. pic.twitter.com/bxcGkYQ5Fr
— Dave Epstein (@growingwisdom) January 15, 2026
MLK holiday: Bit cooler but sunny
It turns a little bit colder for MLK Day on Monday, but it is sunny with temperatures in the 20s to the north and low 30s elsewhere.
Weekend breakdown
Greater Boston: Look for clouds and a few showers Saturday afternoon with the high around 40. Mostly cloudy skies on Sunday with highs in the 30s.
Central/Western Mass.: Clouds could yield some afternoon rain or snow on Saturday with highs in the 30s to near 40. It is partly to mostly cloudy on Sunday with highs in the low to mid-30s.
Southeastern Mass.: Look for clouds thickening on Saturday with highs within a few degrees of 40 and a couple of evening rain showers. Colder with cloudy skies on Sunday.
Cape and islands: Look for a chance of a few showers Saturday afternoon, with the highs in the lower 40s. On Sunday, look for cloudy skies and a chance of rain or rain changing to snow. Highs in the 30s.
Rhode Island: Clouds will tend to dominate the sky on Saturday with highs within a few degrees of 40. It’s cloudy on Sunday with highs in the upper 30s.
New Hampshire: You can expect partly sunny skies on Saturday, with a high near 30 and a brief snow shower. Sunday turns partly sunny with temperatures in the 20s.
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