Monday marked the start of meteorological winter. Right on cue, Mother Nature is delivering a storm.
Let’s set expectations right out of the gate: this won’t end up being a blockbuster storm. Yes, it’s packing plenty of moisture and energy. But in Boston, it will be a rain-dominated event with just a brief flirtation with snow late Tuesday night.
Still, it’s one of those storms that will leave a very different impression depending on where you are.
Expected snow accumulation on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Danielle Noyes/1DegreeOutside)
High pressure sliding out of the Great Lakes Monday will feed in just enough cold air to start the day chilly, but not deep freeze cold. That sets the stage for what will be a heavy, wet, pasty snow inland.
Rain
The key player here is the rain/snow line, which dance across Southern New England throughout the day Tuesday.
Precipitation will generally arrive Tuesday morning between 7 and 9 a.m. By then it will already be too warm in Boston for snow to stick. For the morning commute, expect light rain and snow developing, but roads should remain wet rather than slick.
Through midday, the rain picks up in intensity, with Boston, southeastern Massachusetts and Cape Cod seeing periods of downpour. Temperatures could even spike near 50 degrees at times on the South Shore and Cape. Meanwhile, inland areas north and west of 495 will see accumulating snow that may mix briefly with rain for a time during the afternoon.
Forecasted temperatures for Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Danielle Noyes/1DegreeOutside)
From the eastern part of the state down to Cape Cod, ponding on roads will be a real issue Tuesday afternoon into the evening, with 1-2 inches of rainfall expected. That means big puddles, reduced visibility and a heightened risk of hydroplaning during the evening drive.
As the storm center passes near Nantucket Tuesday evening, colder air on the backside of the system begins to tug that rain/snow line back south. That’s when Boston finally gets its moment. Colder air could filter in just enough for a changeover from rain to wet snow, possibly leaving a coating in the city before all is said and done.
The key here is timing — if the flip happens quickly and the snow comes down hard, snow might briefly whiten things up. But with surface temps still above freezing, it’ll be difficult for anything to stick on roads.
Inland snow
While Boston will see mostly puddles, interior cities and towns will have to dig out from a true snow event. Places like Worcester County and the Merrimack Valley see 2-4 inches and 4-6 inches, respectively, with higher totals north and west of that. Northern New England will get a widespread 6-12 inches of snow.
Wind gusts
Predicted wind gusts on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Danielle Noyes/1DegreeOutside)
Boston avoids the brunt of the strong winds Tuesday, but gusts may briefly reach 30–35 mph at the coastline. The strongest gusts will be along the South Coast and Cape Cod, where winds may hit 40–45 mph. Isolated 50 mph gusts aren’t off the table for Nantucket around midnight or so.
The storm will wind down overnight, with lingering showers or snowflakes wrapping up by pre-dawn Wednesday. Temperatures overnight will dip into the upper 20s to low 30s in Boston, just enough to create slippery patches on untreated surfaces early Wednesday morning. The day itself will be brisk and cold, with highs in the 30s and wind chills making it feel even colder.
Predicted wind chill for Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Danielle Noyes/1DegreeOutside)
More wintery weather Thursday
But we’re not done with winter’s teasing just yet. An arctic front arriving Thursday will bring snow squalls and a quick coating to an inch or two in spots. And that opens the door to the coldest air of the season so far for Friday, with Boston highs likely stuck in the 20s and wind chills in the teens.
In true New England style, it’s a little rain, a little snow and a lot of variability. Check with the 1DegreeOutside app for updates.
