Good morning folks, I want to briefly start off today and say that I’m here doing this work as we move into 2026 because somehow I was able to quit drinking back on the eve of New Year’s Eve going into 2009. I have no magic formula to share, other than something deep inside me wanted to live, even though I mostly wanted to not continue. 29 months after quitting, I started this page hoping to share something I loved and wanting to be a helpful person, and I’m so grateful that you showed up and continue to support my work here. I certainly got lucky, and am very fortunate as the cookie could have easily crumbled in another direction, so I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me a purpose in this life.

As for our weather, the storms are clearing for a while as we move into 2026, and after an anomalously cold month with over a foot of snow received in parts of the Pioneer Valley (and more in the high terrain), I would say December was quite a kickstart to the Winter of 2025-2026 and we’ve got a few more months to traverse that together.

For today, strong gusty winds will continue to blow with a tight pressure gradient over us, partially due to our departed low pressure continuing to strengthen as it tracks away.

Northwest and westerly wind gusts of 30-60mph are possible (30-50mph for most of us, and up to 60mph for the mountain spine that runs through the eastern Berkshires and western hilltowns, along with the northern Worcester county highlands back into the hilltops of eastern Franklin County).

It will be partly sunny on average and with highs only reaching the mid teens to mid 20s, wind gusts will combine to produce wind chills either side of 0º at times, but mostly in the single digits to low teens in between the peak gusts.

The Berkshires and SVT will see some lake effect snow showers as well, and a streamer off of Lake Huron and Ontario may kiss the northern Berkshires and drop some new coatings there if it persists, maybe up to an inch.

Winds continue tonight, gusting 30-45mph and lows will drop into the teens.

For New Year’s Eve, a shortwave will be diving southeast into the region, and will go on to become a potent storm over the ocean and into eastern Nova Scotia, but for us it will bring periods of snow showers or some light snow, and I can’t rule out a coating to an inch in spots, but many likely also see just some flurries and no accumulation (it’s a weak system).

Highs will reach the 20s on Wednesday, and lows will dip into the upper singles to teens with light wind so bundle up if you are heading out to First Night celebrations or other festivities.

New Year’s Day may feature a few snow showers in the morning but sunshine should be developing with cold highs in the mid teens to mid 20s, followed by very cold lows for New Year’s Night in the single digits – a very cold start to 2026!

The Friday through Monday period will feature fair weather with partly to mostly sunny skies and highs in the teens and 20s, and lows in the upper singles to teens (coldest in the high terrain, less on in the valleys).

Have a great day!

“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls.”
― Joseph Campbell