What’s known so far about another potential weekend nor’easter after Boston’s late-January snowstorm

Another coastal storm signal emerges after record-setting snowfall

Boston and much of Massachusetts are digging out from a major late-January snowstorm that dropped 23.2 inches at Boston’s official observing site at Logan Airport, placing it among the city’s largest single-storm totals on record. The storm’s lingering impacts—snowbanks, narrowed roadways, and ongoing cleanup—are now colliding with early signs of another coastal system that could develop in time for the upcoming weekend.

Forecast guidance is converging on the idea of a new low-pressure area forming off the Southeast U.S. coast late Friday, then tracking northward toward New England by Sunday. Whether it becomes a full nor’easter for Massachusetts—bringing heavy snow, strong winds, and coastal flooding—or stays offshore with limited effects remains uncertain at this range.

Why the setup resembles classic New England winter storms

The emerging pattern features two ingredients commonly present in high-impact coastal storms: a southward dip in the jet stream that can help initiate cyclogenesis near the Mid-Atlantic coastline, and a cold air supply anchored to the north. If a coastal low strengthens and moves close enough to the Gulf Stream and the New England shoreline, it can intensify rapidly while drawing moisture back into cold air over land—an efficient recipe for heavy snow.

At the same time, high pressure to the north can play a decisive role. A strong high can either help keep colder air in place (supporting snow) or nudge the storm track farther offshore (reducing precipitation totals locally). Small track shifts over the western Atlantic can produce large changes in snowfall outcomes across eastern Massachusetts.

Coastal flooding risk could be elevated by very high tides

Coastal flooding concerns are not only driven by wind and storm intensity but also by the timing of tides. The upcoming weekend coincides with seasonally higher astronomical tides in Boston Harbor, with the potential for high tide levels near or above 11 feet depending on the tide cycle. If a strengthening coastal low stalls or passes close enough to enhance onshore flow during high tide, the risk of splashover and low-lying coastal inundation could increase.

What remains uncertain, and what to watch next

• Storm track: A farther-offshore track favors lighter impacts; a closer pass increases the potential for heavy snow and stronger winds.

• Timing: Impacts, if they materialize, are most likely late Saturday into Sunday, but the window could shift as the storm forms.

• Precipitation type: Temperatures will likely be cold enough for snow in many areas, but coastal mixing remains possible if the track shifts closer and draws in marine air.

• Wind and visibility: A closer, stronger system would raise the risk of blowing snow and difficult travel, particularly along the coast.

As of Tuesday, the system has not yet formed, and forecast confidence is limited; the most meaningful refinements typically arrive as the storm organizes and is sampled by additional observations later in the week.

For Massachusetts, the practical takeaway is that another high-impact winter weather period is possible this weekend, but specifics—snow totals, wind strength, and coastal flooding potential—depend on details still in flux. The clearest signal over the next few days will be whether the developing low consolidates and tracks close enough to the coastline to bring a sustained period of snow and onshore wind.