Massachusetts Winter Storm Warning: Bay State in store for a potential ‘significant snowmaker’

Massachusetts is in store for its first major winter storm of 2025 as meteorologists say they are seeing “indicators” for a potential “significant snowmaker” set to slam the Bay State Sunday night into Monday morning.

Gov. Maura Healey issued an advisory Saturday evening for residents to “use extra care on the roads … and take the time to check in on your neighbors to make sure everyone stays warm and safe.”

The advisory came after the National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for portions of western, central and northeastern Massachusetts, where the heaviest snowfall amounts are expected at around 8 inches.

“As we continue to monitor this storm,” Healey said in a statement, “we want everyone to be prepared and plan accordingly, especially residents and visitors that may have plans to travel over this holiday weekend.”

Meteorologists at NWS Boston say the places north and west of Interstate 95 could see some localized amounts end up closer to 10 inches depending on the snow banding.

Most of the Bay State had been placed in a Winter Storm Warning as of Saturday afternoon, while the NWS issued a Winter Storm Watch for the immediate Boston area and points south and west.

The South Shore and the Cape and Islands had no advisory, with meteorologists expecting snow likely to mix with rain, lowering accumulations there.

NWS Boston said that it was keeping its eye on the models of the track from the Carolina coast to the Gulf of Maine which was “slowly coming into focus” but will be “the greatest determiner of who sees snow and how much.”

“The stronger/closer track could actually hurt snowfall totals in southeast MA by keeping strong onshore/warmer flow going preventing a quicker flip to snow,” the NWS forecast discussion stated.

The heaviest snow is expected during the overnight hours, with some areas likely to pick up 1 to 2 inches per hour, before the storm ends Monday morning and arctic cold comes rushing in.

Marblehead, Medford and Framingham had all declared snow emergency parking restrictions in anticipation of the storm.

A brutal arctic outbreak will descend upon the region from later Monday into Wednesday — with wind chills likely dropping to between 10 and 15 below zero.

The actual low temps on Monday night and Tuesday night will be in the single digits, with some below zero. The actual high temps on Tuesday and Wednesday will only be in the mid-teens to low 20s.

This will likely be the coldest weather since early February 2023. The NWS is warning of “bitterly cold air.”