Balmy New Year's Ahead For Massachusetts: Weather Service

MASSACHUSETTS — After an unbearably cold Christmas, New Year's in Massachusetts is looking downright tropical.

Early forecasts for New Year's weekend in 2022 show that high temperatures will be in the 50s in most spots across southern New England — that's 15 or more degrees higher than the mid-30s average.

Both the Boston and Worcester areas will be in the low 50s on Saturday and Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, with coastal areas slightly warmer. High temperatures on New Year's Eve have not been above the mid-40s in either city over the last decade, according to weather records. It did reach 59 on New Year's Day in Boston in 2019, however.

There is a hitch in the forecast: early predications call for a 70 percent chance of rain on New Year's Eve night and New Year's Day across Massachusetts.

If you're planning to head out for any new year celebrations, here are the early forecasts for the weekend from the National Weather Service:

Boston

Saturday: A chance of rain after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. South wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

New Year's Day: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. West wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Worcester

Saturday: A chance of rain after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

New Year's Day: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. West wind 6 to 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 37. West wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Hyannis

Saturday: A chance of rain after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 52. Southwest wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: Rain likely, mainly after 9pm. Cloudy, with a low around 42. South wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

New Year's Day: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 52. South wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.