Updated on: January 17, 2026 / 4:31 PM EST / CBS Boston The WBZ Weather team has issued a NEXT Weather Alert for plowable snow on Sunday, which will affect the New England Patriots' playoff game vs. the Houston Texans. But to be clear, Sunday's snow is not going to be a blockbuster or even a nor'easter. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for much of eastern Massachusetts Sunday into early Monday. This one has been very tricky to forecast. The weather models have struggled to pinpoint the exact details, even the day before the storm.  There will be scattered areas of light snow as early as Sunday morning. This snow will be well ahead of the Patriots game and should not cause many travel issues or significant accumulation. The steadiest and most readily accumulating snowfall will arrive late in the afternoon.   Around 3 p.m., we will see a solid shield of snow forming over a good portion of southeast Massachusetts and areas south of the Mass Pike. There will be some mixing with rain along the immediate South Coast, Cape Cod, and the Islands.   The biggest change in this forecast from yesterday is that the area of steady snow is now expected to expand northwest, encompassing all of eastern Massachusetts by 5 to 7 p.m. The majority of the accumulation will occur between 5 p.m. and 1 a.m.  Snow could fall at an inch per hour at times, making travel treacherous. The snow will taper off and end between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. Monday morning.  3-6" Just about all of eastern Massachusetts, including Worcester, Boston, and all areas around and inside of 495. 1-3" areas north and west of 495 and Route 2, including western Mass., southern New Hampshire 1-3" for most of Cape Cod, the Islands, and the southern coast of Mass. due to mixing with rain Temperatures throughout the storm will be near or slightly above 32 degrees. This will result in a very wet, pasty snowfall. This kind of snow is also a bit harder to readily accumulate at first, due to some melting when it comes into contact with other surfaces. Keep in mind that when you eventually head out to shovel, this stuff is going to be heavy to move around. Finally, it now appears that the snow will have an impact on the Patriots' game Sunday afternoon. We expect light snow at times before the game and during the tailgate. But the steadiest snow will move in during the game.  Driving home will be slow and slippery as there should be a few inches of accumulation at that time and more on the way. © 2026 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.