Still holiday shopping? Or maybe traveling? Here’s your weekend weather breakdown. – The Boston Globe

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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