Honestly, if you're looking at the weather forecast Yarmouth MA right now and thinking it's just another snowy New England town, you're missing the weird, wonderful microclimate that makes Cape Cod so unpredictable.
Living here or visiting in January means becoming a bit of a localized weather nerd. Right now, as of late Friday night, January 16, 2026, it’s a crisp 25°F outside. But that’s not the whole story. The "feels like" temperature is actually sitting at 17°F because of a steady 8 mph southwest wind. Humidity is hovering at 68%, making the air feel heavy even though it's technically a "dry" cold.
The Immediate Outlook: Rain, Snow, and Everything In Between
If you have plans for Saturday, January 17, keep an umbrella and a heavy coat in the car. It’s going to be one of those classic "transitional" days. We’re looking at a high of 44°F—which sounds almost balmy—but with a 35% chance of light rain during the day and winds kicking up to 20 mph. By the time night falls, that rain might just switch over to snow as the temp drops back to 33°F.
Sunday, January 18, is where things get truly messy.
The forecast is calling for a mix of rain and snow during the day with a high of 37°F. By Sunday night, the "snow showers" really move in, with a 65% chance of precipitation and a low of 29°F. This is exactly what the National Weather Service often warns about regarding the "Cape Cod transition zone." Since we're surrounded by the relatively "warm" ocean water (warm being a very relative term in January), we often get slush while inland areas like Worcester are getting buried.
Why the weather forecast Yarmouth MA is a total moving target
Basically, the Atlantic Ocean acts like a giant thermostat. It prevents Yarmouth from hitting the sub-zero temperatures you see in the Berkshires, but it also creates this "ocean effect" that can turn a simple cloudy day into a sudden localized squall.
Check out the trend for the rest of the week:
- Monday, Jan 19: Partly sunny but windy (20 mph gusts), high of 33°F.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: Bright sunshine but biting cold. We’re looking at a high of 25°F and a low of 16°F. This will be the coldest day of the week, so if you're planning a walk on Seagull Beach, bundle up.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: Mostly cloudy, slightly warmer at 34°F.
- Thursday, Jan 22: Back to the rain-snow cycle with a high of 39°F.
The data shows a consistent pattern of "clippers"—fast-moving systems—that bring moisture off the coast, hit the cold air sitting over the peninsula, and dump a mix of precipitation.
Survival Tips for Yarmouth’s Winter Mood Swings
If you've spent any time at the Yarmouth Port shoreline or walking the mid-Cape trails, you know that the wind is your real enemy, not the thermometer. A 30-degree day with a 25 mph wind off the sound is much more brutal than a 15-degree day that's dead calm.
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- Layers are a religion. Seriously. You might start a walk in a heavy parka and end it in a fleece because the sun came out and the wind died down for twenty minutes.
- Watch the tide. In Yarmouth, especially around the north side (Yarmouth Port), the tide significantly impacts the "perceived" temperature. When the tide is out, the exposed flats can actually make the air feel a few degrees colder.
- The 40-degree rule. On the Cape, 40°F is often the magic number where roads stay wet rather than icy. If the weather forecast Yarmouth MA shows anything between 33°F and 38°F, assume the bridges and overpasses on Route 6 are going to be slippery.
Looking further ahead toward the end of January, the temps are expected to stay in the 20s and 30s. We're seeing a high of only 23°F on Monday, January 26, which suggests the "January Thaw" we sometimes get isn't quite ready to arrive yet.
For those tracking the broader climate, 2026 has been following a trend of slightly-below-average temperatures for the Atlantic corridor. According to the long-range Almanac data, we should expect a colder-than-normal finish to the month, with sunny but frigid days dominating the final week.
Actionable Next Steps
- For Saturday: Plan indoor activities for the afternoon when that 35% rain chance is most likely to hit.
- For Sunday Night: If you're commuting, be aware of the 65% snow chance. It’s likely to be "wet" snow, which is heavy to shovel and makes for greasy roads.
- Vehicle Prep: Check your tire pressure tonight. These 15-degree temperature swings (from 44°F Saturday to 29°F Sunday) will trip your TPMS light faster than you can say "Ptown."
Stay warm out there. Yarmouth is beautiful in the winter, but it definitely demands respect for its shifting skies.