Weather for New England and the Northeast

Area Forecast Discussion, National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA

Date and Time: 1:42 AM EDT Monday, October 26, 2026

What Has Changed

No meaningful changes have been made to the forecast. An extended stretch of quiet, dry weather remains expected across southern New England.

Key Messages

\- A prolonged stretch of dry weather is expected across southern New England, likely lasting through Halloween, with a possible transition toward unsettled weather in early November. Temperatures will be mild today, briefly cooler Tuesday and Wednesday, then warmer again late in the week. Temperatures should trend closer to normal for the season over the weekend.

Discussion

Extended Dry Weather and High Pressure

Nearly picture-perfect fall weather is expected to continue across southern New England throughout the coming week. High pressure will remain the dominant weather feature, bringing plenty of sunshine, light winds, and generally quiet conditions. Temperatures will fluctuate from day to day, but there is little indication of significant weather disruptions.

Weather forecast models continue to show an unusually dry pattern. The probability of measurable precipitation, defined as at least 0.01 inches, is generally less than 10 percent through Halloween.

A broad area of surface high pressure, with atmospheric pressure near 30.42 inches of mercury, remains in control of the regional weather pattern. Its center has shifted slightly south toward the Mid-Atlantic compared with Sunday. Even so, the high will continue to promote mostly sunny skies, light winds, and dry weather.

Two cold fronts will move through the region this week, the first tonight into early Tuesday and the second Friday night into Saturday morning. Both systems are expected to contain very little moisture. As a result, they will likely bring little more than additional clouds, occasional breezy conditions, and cooler air.

The next opportunity for precipitation may come Sunday or Monday of next week. Forecast models suggest the weather pattern could become more active during the first week of November, although details remain uncertain.

Temperature Outlook for the Week

Monday, October 26

Mild temperatures are expected today, with afternoon highs reaching the middle 60s to near 70 degrees. The warmth is supported by relatively mild air in the lower atmosphere, approximately 5,000 feet above the ground. Plenty of sunshine and light winds should make for a pleasant fall day.

Tuesday, October 27

A cold front will move through tonight into early Tuesday, bringing a noticeable cooldown. High temperatures are expected to reach only the lower to middle 50s, roughly 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Monday.

Despite the cooler air, conditions should remain generally dry, with some additional cloud cover possible.

Wednesday, October 28

Temperatures will begin a gradual recovery Wednesday as warmer air moves into the region above the surface. Afternoon highs should be a few degrees warmer than Tuesday, although the morning could be particularly cold in some locations.

Thursday, October 29, and Friday, October 30

A stretch of unusually mild late-October weather is expected to develop late in the week. Highs should reach the middle 60s Thursday, followed by upper 60s to potentially lower 70s Friday.

The DESI (Daily Ensemble Statistical Interpretation) forecast probabilities for Friday temperatures reaching at least 70 degrees have increased substantially. Probabilities that were around 30 to 50 percent on Sunday have risen to generally 60 to 80 percent or higher. The chances are lower along the coast and across higher elevations, where cooler conditions are more likely.

This warmth will be short-lived, however, as the next cold front approaches Friday night.

Weekend, October 31 and November 1

The second cold front is expected to pass through Friday night into Saturday morning, bringing another drop in temperatures of around 10 degrees.

Afternoon highs over the weekend should settle into the upper 50s to lower 60s, closer to typical late-October and early-November levels. Dry weather is expected to continue, including through Halloween, although some additional clouds and breezy conditions may accompany the frontal passage.

Overnight Temperatures and Potential Frost

Overnight temperatures should generally settle into the upper 30s and 40s through much of the week, closer to normal for this time of year.

Wednesday morning could be the main exception. Cooler air arriving behind the first cold front, combined with light winds and mostly clear skies, could allow temperatures to fall into the 20s and lower 30s in some areas.

This type of cooling occurs when the ground loses heat after sunset, allowing the air near the surface to cool substantially. Meteorologists call this radiational cooling.

Urban areas such as Boston will likely remain above freezing, with overnight lows in the middle to upper 30s. Confidence in the colder Wednesday morning temperatures is moderate because it remains uncertain whether winds will become light enough to allow the strongest cooling.

If you have mums, pumpkins, or other sensitive plants outdoors, take precautions against a possible frost or freeze, especially in colder inland locations.