Light showers were already creeping across southern New England early Thursday, and steadier rain was expected to blanket the area through the afternoon, with some moderate to briefly heavy bursts rolling over Cape Cod. Easterly winds will hold high temperatures in the low 50s before a shift to the north drops readings overnight.

That colder flow is what forecasters are watching. As it arrives, rain is likely to change to snow in the hills and higher terrain of southern New England. Accumulations should stay limited, however, because the precipitation is expected to taper off and become spotty as the storm matures.

Winds will build along the coast as the system intensifies, with gusts reaching 35 to 40 mph late Thursday night and into Friday. A few isolated spots from Cape Ann to Cape Cod and Nantucket could see gusts top 40 mph. The gusty conditions are expected to buffet the coastline through the day Friday before easing late in the day, though brisk winds will linger into the weekend.

The storm may throw a few more rounds of light rain or snow showers at the region into early Friday afternoon. By Friday evening, whatever remains should shrivel quickly as the system pulls offshore.

Looking ahead, Saturday is expected to stay mostly cloudy, but Sunday looks much brighter. Temperatures will hold in the 40s through the weekend. A string of sunny days and a gradual warming trend is forecast next week, with highs potentially reaching the 60s as early as Wednesday or Thursday.

For residents, the practical takeaways are familiar: expect a wet, windy Thursday commute, watch for slick spots on higher-elevation roads overnight and Friday morning, and secure loose outdoor items along the coast as gusts pick up. The first snowflakes of the season in inland hills are a reminder that winter weather is arriving, even as the region braces for a brief return to milder conditions next week.