MA Weather: Snow, Cold 'Warning Shot' As Polar Vortex Loosens Up

The mild winter we've had in New England could soon be coming to a close. Cold, somewhat snowy weather returns to Massachusetts this week, acting as a "warning shot" as the weakening polar vortex threatens to bring a more familiar winter.

Two bouts of snow are expected this week, the first being early Tuesday morning. Forecasters are saying to expect a coating upward of 2 inches, with the higher totals coming in the Berkshires. The rest of the state will awake to a dusting mixed with freezing rain, making for some hazardous road conditions during the Tuesday morning commute, the National Weather Service said. The precipitation should start shortly before sunrise.

Tuesday night into Wednesday will see the continued rain turning back into snow, the NWS said. The potential "burst" of snow could result in 3-4 inches of snow, counting the totals that will begin early Tuesday morning. The highest totals will still be in northern and western areas of the state.

There is also a low possibility of a storm Sunday, but forecasters are counting on a dry, cold day for when the New England Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers in Gillette Stadium.

Meanwhile, it will stay cold and windy throughout today. There were several communities that woke up to wind chills in the teens.

That could be closer to the norm in the coming weeks. AccuWeather said the weather could be a "warning shot" for late January/early February, due to the warming of the stratosphere over the North Pole. When the warming occurs, the polar vortex weakens, releasing frigid air that could be earmarked for the northeast.

"We expect some double-digit temperature departures from average for a couple of days here and there during February, based on a storm or two that may put some patches of snow down," AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

Boston-area forecast via NWS

Monday - Increasing clouds, with a high near 31. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Monday night - A chance of snow, mainly after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 23. Light southeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday - Rain and snow likely, becoming all rain after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 42. South wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tuesday night - Rain, mainly after 11pm. Low around 34. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday - A chance of rain and snow before 7am, then a chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 43. West wind 8 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday night - A chance of rain showers before 8pm, then a slight chance of snow showers between 8pm and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. Northwest wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday - Partly sunny, with a high near 36. Northwest wind around 11 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Thursday night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 15. Northwest wind around 9 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday - Sunny, with a high near 23. Northwest wind around 9 mph.

Friday night - Mostly clear, with a low around 9. Northwest wind around 7 mph.

Saturday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 26. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.

Saturday night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight.

Sunday - Partly sunny, with a high near 27. North wind around 7 mph.

(Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images)