Touch Of Spring As Thaw Breaks Up Relentless Winter Cold Across MA

MASSACHUSETTS — Those desperately seeking a respite from this winter's relentless stretch of cold, wind, snow and ice will get some relief in the coming days as a warmup will lead to some long-awaited melting across New England.

The National Weather Service said temperatures are expected to reach the 40s for much of next week — the first such stretch in six weeks — during a winter that is shaping up as the coldest in a decade.

While it will not exactly be shorts and sandals weather, temperatures will edge into the upper 30s on Saturday and Sunday with lessening winds making it feel much more pleasant than the past few weeks for most.

Also helping break down ice buildup on roofs and sidewalks will be the overnight lows in the upper 20s and 30s after one more very cold night Friday when the low in Boston is forecast for 16 degrees.

The high temperature forecast for Monday is 42 degrees, with a high of 48 on Tuesday and 47 on Wednesday.

Thursday should remain in the upper 40s with the next weather system in site bringing rain to much of the region.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)