MA Weather: Timeline For Rain, Snow And Record-Cold Temperatures

A mild morning will give way to a January-type Tuesday in Massachusetts. Forecasters are still expecting some brief snow this afternoon and evening before a strong cold front plunges the region into a deep freeze overnight into Wednesday.

The day starts with rain, but that will change "to a very brief period of snow," the National Weather Service said. The snow will come between 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. in interior Massachusetts, 1-4 p.m. in Eastern Mass., and 4-7 p.m. across the Cape and Islands. The end result shouldn't be more than a coating of about an inch. It would be the first measurable snowfall in 249 days (March 10) in Boston and 233 days (March 23) in Worcester, according to the NWS.

You can see more details in the simulated radar below.

Timing is the most important element with the snow today. Temperatures will begin to hit a near-freezing range around 2 p.m. and by 6 some interior areas will be in the 20s. The NWS said overnight wind chills will dip as low as negative-5 degrees in some areas.

Officials are warning of patches of black ice and hazardous road conditions, particularly in northern Massachusetts near the New Hampshire border.

Temperatures will rebound to as high as 50 in the coming days. Snow isn't on the menu in the short-term forecast after Tuesday.

Boston-area forecast via NWS

Today - Rain before 3pm, then a chance of snow. Patchy fog before 11am. Temperature falling to around 31 by 5pm. Northwest wind 5 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Tonight - Mostly cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 17. West wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph.

Wednesday - Sunny, with a high near 30. Northwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph.

Wednesday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 16. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday - Partly sunny, with a high near 40. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph.

Thursday Night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Light and variable wind.

Friday - Sunny, with a high near 50. Southwest wind 3 to 8 mph. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.

Friday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 23. West wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Saturday - Sunny, with a high near 34. North wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 22. North wind around 6 mph.

Sunday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. East wind around 6 mph.

Sunday Night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Monday - A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%