Boston is waking up cloudy and mild this morning, sitting around 56°F at Logan as of 5:35 a.m. Thursday, March 12, but that early warmth will be short lived. A sharp cold front is set to plow through later today, flipping plain rain to sleet and then to wet snow this afternoon into early tonight and turning the evening commute into a slower, slushier mess around the city.
Afternoon Changeover and Commute
Showers and a few embedded thunderstorms are expected to taper off early, but steady rain should hang around through much of the day before mixing with sleet and briefly changing to wet snow late this afternoon. As temperatures slide from the mid 50s into the mid 30s, drivers can count on wet roads and reduced visibility right when the afternoon rush kicks in. The National Weather Service notes that most snow accumulation will be minor and limited to grassy or other non paved surfaces, although interior communities could see an inch or two. Pavement, for the most part, should stay just wet rather than icy.
Winds and Local Tips
By this afternoon, winds will swing around to the west and northwest with gusts near 25-30 mph across the city, with higher gusts possible farther inland and again later this weekend. Boaters and anyone planning to be along the waterfront should be ready for choppy conditions and the possibility of small craft advisories, while drivers will want to pad their afternoon schedule a bit. The City of Boston offers a winter guide with warming centers, snow emergency details and 311 contacts if you need assistance.
Heads-Up For Next Week
Looking ahead, forecasters are watching a wetter, windier system that is possible Sunday night into Monday, with widespread showers and locally heavy rain that could drop about 1-2 inches in parts of southeast Massachusetts and Rhode Island and bring a risk of minor river flooding. Strong southerly winds Monday into Monday night could ramp up impacts and trigger more travel headaches in exposed areas. Keep an eye on updates from the National Weather Service and your local utilities before locking in early week plans.
