DAYS 1-5 (JULY 18-22)
The next plume of Canadian wildfire smoke arrives today. While this plume will not be as dense as the one we experience at midweek, it will play some role in the reduction of visibility and may be detectable by smell for some. It won’t be as prominently visible overall due to the fact that we have low pressure passing to our north, and its warm front spreading a pretty extensive cloud shield into our region too. So while we have some limited sunshine in spots this morning, it will turn out to be a fairly sunless day, and the warm front will cause a round or two of showers to move through the region during this afternoon. Guidance ranges from a few hours of rain to just a brief bout of showers. I think what we see is somewhere in between, but I do think a fair percentage of the region will see the ground turn wet for a while between noon and 6 p.m. before we briefly enter the “warm sector” of the low and get a break. The low’s cold front will then cross our region this evening and tonight, with a pretty solid band of showers and thunderstorms. The greatest potential for stronger storms lies southwest of our region, but within the WHW forecast area some of the more notable activity would most likely be south of I-90. The short-range guidance (a few models) have been somewhat divergent on the exact timing of the heaviest activity. Currently, I’m leaning toward just after dark north and west, and a little later evening (after 10 p.m. to overnight) from the Boston-Providence corridor southeastward. Best plan is to monitor radar in real time if you have plans that involve travel or being outside, and as always check appropriate web pages etc. for updates on cancellations or postponements. The good news is that any rain we get is beneficial. The other good news is that Sunday will be a spectacular day. The front will have moved offshore pre-dawn, and we’ll be into an air mass similar to the one we experienced yesterday, mild air, low humidity, no rain, lots of sun, and smoke pushed back out of the region. High pressure dominates Monday, but we may see some smoke make a return to us at higher altitudes returning the hazy look to the sky. Another low pressure area will be passing to our north after that with current expectations being warm frontal rains on Tuesday and cold frontal showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday, with timing and details to-be-determined.
TODAY: Smoke & haze. Clouds increase. A period of showers crossing the region west to east this afternoon. Highs 77-84. Dew point rises toward 60. Wind S 5-15 MPH with gusts over 20 MPH.
TONIGHT: Mainly cloudy. A period of showers and thunderstorms west to east mid evening to after midnight, with some embedded downpours. A strong thunderstorm possible closer to the South Coast. Fog patches form late at night. Lows 62-69. Dew point 60+. Wind S 5-15 MPH which can be variable and gusty near any storms, shifting to W from west to east overnight.
SUNDAY: Sun and passing clouds. Highs 79-86. Dew point falls to 50s. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Clear. Fog patches low elevation areas. Lows 58-65. Dew point 50s. Wind calm.
MONDAY: Hazy sunshine with high altitude smoke. Highs 78-85, coolest coast. Dew point 50s. Wind variable up to 10 MPH with coastal sea breezes.
MONDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Potential high altitude smoke. Lows 60-67. Dew point climbs toward 60. Wind S up to 10 MPH.
TUESDAY: Mostly cloudy. Hazy. Shower chances increases. Highs 76-83. Dew point 60+. Wind S 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers. Areas of fog. Lows 62-69. Dew point in 60s. Wind S 5-15 MPH.
WEDNESDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs 77-84. Dew point in 60s. Wind S to SW 5-15 MPH, higher gusts.
DAYS 6-10 (JULY 23-27)
Fair weather is expected to dominate for several days with a shower / t-storm threat returning at the end of the period. Temperatures near to slightly below normal. No major heat indicated.
DAYS 11-15 (JULY 28 – AUGUST 1)
Shower / t-storm chances eyed for July 28 and July 30-31. Temperatures somewhat variable but overall pretty close to normal.