Bostonians are braced for a sunny but chilly welcome to their holiday weekend, with forecasts predicting a brisk 34 degrees today. Patrons planning for last-minute Christmas shopping need not worry about rainfall, as the National Weather Service assures mostly clear skies tonight, punctuated by a low near 24, according to their website.
With a turnaround as shelves are cleared and presents are wrapped, the temperatures are expected to rise marginally. Tomorrow's shoppers will see an increase in cloud cover and a high near 42. While gusts of south-southwest wind could rattle some of the city's decorations, it will mainly be a calm breeze between 3 and 9 mph.
Continuity prevails into December 24, as the clouds persist, with highs edging up to a more temperate 45 degrees. Evening plans, however, could see guests wrapping their coats tighter, with a low around 37 projected for December 24. The mild respite continues into Christmas Day, granting a partly sunny sky and favoring holiday festivities with a near-49-degree warmth.
Transitions are then in store as the week progresses, with the weather forecast trending more unsettled. Travelers returning from their Christmas destinations could meet with mostly cloudy conditions on December 25, dragging a low of around 37 with them. Subsequent days threaten to dampen spirits and streets alike; a chance of rain on December 26 precedes a stronger likelihood on December 27, accompanied by patchy fog emerging after 9 a.m. and a high reaching 52 degrees.
The wet weather is reluctant to relent, with rain expected to persist into December 27 and possibly clear up by December 28. However, the lingering chance of rain and mostly cloudy conditions, culminating in a high near 50, means an umbrella might be a prudent companion for anyone's end-of-year errands.
