More Snow, Cold Coming Thursday Morning

Rain, snow and single-digit low temperatures will return to Massachusetts over the next 36 hours.

Wednesday will start cold before experiencing some of the warmest temperatures of the week, reaching into the mid-40s. But strong wind gusts will make it feel chilly, with gusts of up to 25-40 miles per hour and even stronger along the Cape, where there will be a wind advisory.

"Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects," the National Weather Service said. "Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result."

Snow, or rain turning into snow, will start early Thursday. North of Boston can expect an inch or 2, while south of Boston is looking at up to 3 inches during the morning commute. The bulk of the snow will come from 5 a.m.-noon.

There is a scenario where the Boston area gets more snow, but as of right now forecasters are expecting just a few inches at most.

"If that stronger storm scenario is correct ... cities such as Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston could be hammered with snow," AccuWeather said.

Temperatures will begin a steep decline after Thursday afternoon, dropping as low as 6 degrees and only getting past freezing once (Sunday) over the next several days into next week.

Forecast via NWS

BOSTON

Today — Mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Breezy, with a south wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Tonight — A chance of rain between 3am and 5am, then snow likely, possibly mixed with rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. Southwest wind 8 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday — Snow, mainly before noon. Temperature falling to around 26 by 5pm. Northwest wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Thursday Night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 8. Wind chill values as low as -4. Northwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Friday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 19. North wind 7 to 11 mph.

Friday Night — Mostly cloudy, with a low around 11. North wind around 8 mph.

Saturday — Partly sunny, with a high near 24. North wind 6 to 8 mph.

Saturday Night — Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. Light and variable wind.

Sunday — Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night — Mostly cloudy, with a low around 19. West wind 5 to 8 mph.

WORCESTER

Today — Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Southwest wind 8 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph.

Tonight — A slight chance of rain between 2am and 3am, then a chance of snow. Increasing clouds, with a low around 27. Southwest wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday — Snow, mainly before 1pm. High near 28. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.

Thursday Night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 3. Wind chill values as low as -7. North wind 8 to 10 mph.

Friday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 18. North wind 6 to 9 mph.

Friday Night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 5. North wind around 6 mph.

Saturday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 23. North wind around 7 mph.

Saturday Night — Mostly cloudy, with a low around 12. Light and variable wind becoming west around 5 mph after midnight.

Sunday — Mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Sunday Night — Mostly cloudy, with a low around 15. West wind 5 to 7 mph.