Boston, MA – New England is gearing up for a colder and stormier start to December, with increasing chances for rain, wintry mix, and early-season snowfall across parts of the region next week.
According to NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, the period from Nov. 29 through Dec. 5 shows a strong likelihood of below-normal temperatures across all six New England states—Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The coldest anomalies are expected across northern New England, where temperatures may dip several degrees below typical early-winter averages.
NOAA’s precipitation outlook also highlights a broad area of above-normal precipitation centered over the Northeast and New England. This pattern suggests multiple disturbances could sweep through the region, increasing the chances for widespread cold rain along the coast and potential snow or mixed precipitation inland, especially during overnight and early-morning hours.
Interior zones—including western Massachusetts, Vermont’s Green Mountains, New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, and much of inland Maine—are most likely to see the first accumulating snow if temperatures drop far enough during passing storm systems. Coastal cities such as Boston, Providence, and New Haven are more likely to remain on the warmer side, seeing chilly rain unless colder air locks in.
While no single major storm is highlighted in the long-range outlook, forecasters say the combination of colder air and repeated moisture surges could produce periodic travel delays, slippery secondary roads, and reduced visibility at higher elevations.
Residents should monitor updated daily forecasts as we approach December, especially if traveling after Thanksgiving or commuting early in the morning when temperatures hover near freezing.
