BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS — A powerful winter storm unfolding across Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire, and northern Connecticut could push snowfall totals into historic territory, with Boston facing a 1-in-10 chance of breaking its all-time snowfall record by midweek, according to new high-end projections from the National Weather Service.
Forecast data valid from Sunday morning, January 25, through early Wednesday, January 28, shows widespread 20 to 30 inches of snow across interior and coastal New England, with the highest risk centered over eastern Massachusetts.
Boston Could Challenge Its All-Time Snowfall Record
High-end probability maps indicate a 10% chance Boston exceeds 27.6 inches, the city’s all-time snowfall record set on February 7–8, 2003. Current projections place Boston near 29 inches if the most intense snow bands persist over the metro area.
Nearby coastal communities are also facing extreme totals:
- Gloucester, MA: near 30 inches
- Lowell, MA: around 27 inches
- Worcester, MA: near 26 inches
- Mansfield, MA: around 26 inches
- Plymouth, MA: near 25 inches
These totals represent the upper-end outcome, but forecasters stress the signal is strong enough to raise serious concern.
Interior New England Sees Widespread 20–25 Inches
Snowfall is not limited to the coast. Interior locations across western and central New England are also projected to receive significant accumulation:
- Fitchburg, MA: ~25 inches
- Springfield, MA: ~24 inches
- Amherst, MA: ~23 inches
- Greenfield, MA: ~25 inches
- Pittsfield, MA: ~27 inches
Across southern New Hampshire, totals near 20–21 inches are forecast for areas such as Keene and Manchester, placing the region squarely within the storm’s core.
Connecticut Still Faces Major Impacts Despite Lower Coastal Totals
While coastal Connecticut sees lower numbers compared to Massachusetts, the storm remains impactful:
- Hartford, CT: ~22 inches
- Storrs, CT: ~21 inches
- Waterbury, CT: ~18 inches
- Bridgeport, CT: ~14 inches
Snowfall decreases closer to the shoreline, but heavy inland totals could still lead to major travel disruptions and power concerns, especially if winds increase during peak snowfall.
Timing: Multi-Day Storm With Prolonged Impacts
- Sunday–Monday: Snow rapidly intensifies, especially inland
- Monday night–Tuesday: Heaviest banding risk across eastern Massachusetts
- Tuesday night–early Wednesday: Snow tapers, but cleanup challenges persist
Because this is a long-duration storm, impacts will compound over time, increasing stress on infrastructure and emergency services.
Why This Storm Is So Concerning
Meteorologists point to persistent banding, cold temperatures, and strong moisture transport as key factors supporting extreme totals. Even small shifts in storm placement could dramatically change who sees the highest accumulations…