The first half of Friday will see mostly cloudy clouds as the outer edge of the system approaches the region. In Greater Boston and interior parts of Massachusetts, temperatures are expected to reach the mid 30s, with highs near the Cape exceeding 40s. An onshore breeze could keep Boston a little warmer and closer to 40°C.

It will remain near freezing or colder in the Berkshires and northern New England.

Here’s the setup: A separate clipper storm to our west will descend into southern New England as the offshore storm continues to organize. There should be enough interaction between the weakening clipper and the strengthening offshore system to pull the storm closer to the southern New England coast.

This will bring light rain and snow along the coast from Portland to Boston to the Cape and Islands. Precipitation could reach as far inland as Springfield and Hartford and possibly as far south as Concord, New Hampshire

1 p.m. to 3 p.m

This system is coming and rain or snow showers will begin in the early afternoon across the Greater Boston area and areas to the south. Boston to Providence hovers right on the rain-snow line during this time.

3 p.m. to 6 p.m

Before then, the region is expected to experience steady rainfall When you commute home, keep your umbrella.

6 p.m. to midnight

The rain will turn to light, fluffy snow as the storm strengthens and wet weather moves into the region from the south, helped by additional moisture blowing onshore from the east.

Sometime Friday evening, the wind direction will change to the northeast as the core of the storm passes offshore, making this storm technically a northeast storm. Snow will then extend into southeastern New Hampshire and across the coast of Maine.

Saturday, midnight to 6 a.m

The storm will gain speed and move out of New England around sunrise Saturday. There will be some snow at some point along this route, with some lingering snow showers in the wake of the storm.

We could end up with up to 3 inches of snowpack, with slightly higher totals possibly accumulating on the I-95 and I-495 belts. Larger pockets of snow may occur at times, increasing the total height to 10 cm, provided enough moisture comes ashore to form bands of snow.

Due to the different temperatures, it is difficult to determine where the rain-snow line is. Temperatures Friday afternoon will be in the mid-30s from Boston to Worcester, with temperatures in southeastern Mass. and on the Cape it’s more like 40 degrees. Since there is a little more warmth on land, it could mostly rain in these areas.

Here’s what we currently know:

• I-495 into Boston and south to the Cape will begin with cold rain before quickly changing to light snow showers as temperatures drop through Friday evening. The transition to snow should happen fairly quickly and actually only the Outer Cape should get full rain.

• There won’t be much action in western New England from this storm, other than some occasional severe weather.

• In parts of Vermont, some of the energy from the separate western storm could bring several inches of snow.

• Downeast Maine will be cut off from the outer edge of this storm, where about 4 to 6 inches could hang around Bangor to Millinocket.

This storm will strengthen as the evening progresses, with wind gusts reaching speeds of 20 to 30 miles per hour along the coast. The cool wind makes it feel like the teenage years outside. Stormy conditions are expected to continue through Saturday after the storm passes.

The golden question is: If it snows more than an inch in Boston, will staying there be enough to be considered a white Christmas on Wednesday morning? It will be cold enough through the weekend that the snow may stick around until Monday. We’ll keep you updated.

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Greater Boston area: Persistent isolated snow showers on the morning of Saturday, the winter solstice, which marks the first day of astronomical winter. High pressure will begin to affect the area around midday and into the afternoon. It will still remain windy with a choppy atmosphere under a mix of sun and clouds. Wind speeds likely between 10 and 15 mph. Highs only to the freezing mark on Saturday. Bitter cold on Sunday with mostly sunny skies. Temperatures will only be in the low 20s C, with a chilly wind in the low teens.

Southern New England: There will be a few lingering snow showers Saturday morning, clearing as the day progresses. Highs will be in the low 30s with a breeze around 10 mph. Sunday will be icy and the sky will be mostly sunny. Highs will stall in the mid 20s while it cools into the mid 10s.

Central/West Fair: There could be one or two storms Saturday morning. The sky will get better and clearer as the day goes on. High temperatures in Worcester on Saturday may only reach 30 degrees, as will the Pioneer Valley. The Berkshires will be stuck in the mid-20s. A breeze of 15 mph is expected across the region. Sunday will be an icebox. Highs will only reach the low 20s from Springfield to Worcester; The Berkshires will be in the teens with mostly sunny skies.

Cape and Islands: A few early morning showers, alternating between rain and snow, will ease until cloud cover subsides. Highs on Saturday will reach the 30s. Stormy conditions with winds around 15 to 20 mph. Sunday will be cold with highs only reaching the mid 20s under mostly sunny skies.

Northern New England: Persistent, isolated snow showers through much of Saturday with highs mostly in the 20s. The sky will be mostly cloudy between snow showers and thunderstorms. Skies will be partly to mostly sunny on Sunday, with temperatures reaching a blistering mid-teens. Wind chills will be in the single digits.

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Ken Mahan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Instagram @kenmahantheweatherman.