Early Sunday marks the final hours of astronomical fall and the start of astronomical winter, or the winter solstice, which is at 10:03 a.m., Sunday this year. It is also the longest night of the year.

Behind the mild day on Friday will come a colder one for Saturday. But this is very short-lived and certainly not a very intense cold. Temperatures will start in the 20s and end up in the 30s to low 40s as warmer air will already be streaming into the region. You’ll notice some high clouds in the afternoon, along with a light wind, a marker of warm air advection.

Some snow showers will brush through Northern New England on Saturday.

Saturday night, a light southwest breeze will keep temperatures from falling too much, holding to around 30 all night long.

With that sort of a springboard, readings on Sunday will reach into the mid-40s along with a blend of clouds and sun.

Cold air drives in behind Sunday’s milder temperatures for a cold start to Christmas week.

Looking further ahead, there’s a small chance of some snow in the couple of days before Christmas. Whether or not we would end up with an inch on the ground in Boston on Christmas morning is still unlikely, but it’s not a zero chance.

Greater Boston: Look for plenty of sunshine on Saturday with temperatures in the mid- to upper 30s. A blend of clouds and sunshine is on tap for Sunday with temperatures in the low to mid-40s.

Central/Western Mass.: Look for sunny skies with temperatures just about freezing on Saturday and a little bit of a breeze. It’s near or a little above 40 and blustery on Sunday with partly sunny skies.

Southeastern Mass.: Temperatures will reach the low 40s on Saturday with mostly sunny skies and a bit of a westerly breeze; it’s in the mid- to upper 40s on Sunday with sun and clouds.

Cape and Islands: Temperatures will reach the low 40s on Saturday under an abundance of sunshine. Some clouds mixed with the sun on Sunday, with temperatures in the mid-40s.

Rhode Island: Mostly sunny on Saturday with highs in the low 40s, then on Sunday, look for partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-40s.

New Hampshire: Look for a dry weekend with temperatures right around freezing on Saturday under sunny skies and near 40 on Sunday with partly sunny skies. It will be colder in the mountains by about 10 degrees.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are re-signing veteran running back Trey Sermon, the team announced today. Sermon has had multiple on-and-off stints with the Steelers since signing with the team rookie mini-camp. He’s appeared in three games for the Steelers in 2025.

Sermon was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. In 46 career games, Sermon has 505 yards on 134 carries and three touchdowns with the 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Steelers.

The Steelers have the chance to put the Baltimore Ravens on the ropes this Sunday. If they defeat the Detroit Lions, the Ravens would have to defeat one of the New England Patriots or Green Bay Packers for the Week 18 matchup between the Steelers and Ravens to have any stakes. The Steelers can also clinch the division before Week 18 if they win their next two games and the Ravens go 1-1 or 0-2.

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The U.S. Treasury asked major philanthropic donors to contribute to new investment accounts for children Wednesday as part of what Secretary Scott Bessent called a “50 State Challenge” to raise funds for the Trump Accounts program.

“The president is calling on our nation’s business leaders and philanthropic organizations to help us make America great again by securing the financial future of America’s children,” Bessent said in an address.

The billionaire hedge fund founder Ray Dalio, along with his wife Barbara, announced they would commit $250 to 300,000 children under 10 in Connecticut who live in ZIP codes where the median income is less than $150,000. Dalio founded the investment firm Bridgewater Associates and lives in Connecticut.

“I have been fortunate to live the American Dream. At an early age I was exposed to the stock market, and it changed my life,” Ray Dalio said in a statement, adding that he sees the accounts as putting children on a path toward financial independence.

The Dalios’ $75 million commitment follows the $6.25 billion pledge from billionaires Michael and Susan Dell earlier in December. The Dells promised to invest $250 in the accounts of 25 million children 10 and under who live in ZIP codes across the country that also have that median income.

The new investment accounts were created as part of President Donald Trump’s tax and spending legislation, passed over the summer. Under the new law, the U.S. Department of the Treasury will deposit $1,000 into the investment accounts of children born during Trump’s second term.

The Treasury has not yet launched the new accounts.

“Starting on July 4th, our nation’s 250th anniversary, parents, family members, employers and friends will be able to contribute up to $5,000 to each Trump Account each year,” Bessent said Wednesday.

Brad Gerstner, a venture capitalist, who championed the accounts, said the Treasury will create an account for every child in the U.S. who has a Social Security number but private companies will eventually administer the accounts. Parents or guardians will have to claim the accounts on behalf of their children. For children born before Trump came to office and who don’t qualify for the funds from the Dells and the Dalios, their families can open and fund their own Trump Account if they choose.

Money in the accounts must be invested in an index fund that tracks the overall stock market. When the children turn 18, they can withdraw the funds to put toward their education, to buy a home or to start a business.

Bessent said employers, family members and philanthropists can put funds into the accounts and that the administration hopes states will also eventually set up programs to invest in the accounts. Companies including Visa and BlackRock have also pledged to contribute in some way to the accounts of their employees’ children.

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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.