DAYS 1-5 (SEPTEMBER 15-19)
I had to chuckle a tad when I woke up early this morning to a feel-of-fall chill coming through the window via Canada while at the same time seeing the early sunlight filtered through the canopy of high clouds from a weather system that originated deep in the tropics. After how humid we had been, and how humid we are currently not, it was just a little funny. But weather is often about interaction between things that originate far from each other, and this will be the case for us the next couple days as Lee, during transition from hurricane, to tropical storm, to post-tropical, will make its northward trek just to our east and make a post-tropical landfall Saturday afternoon in western Nova Scotia. We’ll have a generally nice day today under the clouds, which will limit our sun, but maybe set up a nice sunset later before they thicken up tonight. Lee’s impacts will be limited mostly to rough surf along the coast, with north-facing shores most vulnerable to high tide flooding late tonight and midday Saturday. The wind will be the other most noticeable impact, with a fresh northerly breeze on the western fringe of the storm’s circulation. I’m expecting peak wind gusts of 25-35 MPH over interior areas, 35-45 MPH over the coastal plain, but 45-55 MPH along the immediate coast with 55 MPH + wind gusts possible on the tip of Cape Ann and across Cape Cod and Nantucket. As Lee pulls away Saturday afternoon, the winds will begin to diminish. The rainfall impact from Lee’s passage will be rather limited. The rain shield should expand northwestward from offshore, reaching Cape Cod and Nantucket by 10PM or so, Boston area by about 2AM, and out as far as the I-95 and I-495 belts possibly by just before dawn. But the further west you are, the less likely you are to see any rain and if you do the shorter-lived it will likely be. Dry air in place will chomp up the western fringe of the rain area. For rain amounts, expect traces inland, about 0.10 tops near the NH Seacoast and MA North Shore through Boston area, up to 0.50 inch near the Cape Cod Canal, and 1.00 inch or more from Mid Cape eastward. That’s it. And then Lee’s outta here late Saturday with rapid improvement, maybe another nice sunset for parts of the region, a cool Saturday night with dry air reinforce, and a pleasant Sunday with lots of sun, passing clouds, and dry air. Monday’s weather briefly tanks as a low pressure trough swings through the region with showery conditions – timing to be fine-tuned next updates. This should move swiftly enough so we’re right back to fair by Tuesday.
TODAY: Limited sun – lots of high clouds. Highs 66-73. Wind N 5-15 MPH.
TONIGHT: Thickening clouds. Rain arrives southeast to northwest overnight, steadiest Cape Cod and coastal areas. Lows 55-62. Wind N increasing to 10-20 MPH with gusts 25 MPH or higher inland, 15-25 MPH with gusts 35 MPH or higher coastal plain, and 25-35 MPH with gusts 45 MPH or higher immediate coast, strongest gusts Cape Cod and Nantucket as well as tip of Cape Ann.
SATURDAY: Cloudy through midday including rain likely Cape Cod and a chance of rain eastern MA & NH Seacoast, then increasing sun especially western areas during the afternoon and maybe into eastern areas later on. Highs 66-73. Wind in the morning N increasing to 10-20 MPH with gusts 25 MPH or higher inland, 15-25 MPH with gusts 35 MPH or higher coastal plain, and 25-35 MPH with gusts 45 MPH or higher immediate coast, strongest gusts Cape Cod and Nantucket as well as tip of Cape Ann. Wind in the afternoon shifting to NW and diminishing.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 51-58. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs 68-75. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Increasing clouds. Lows 50-57. Wind W up to 10 MPH.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy. Showers likely. Highs 67-74. Wind variable to S 5-15 MPH.
MONDAY NIGHT: Clearing. Lows 50-57. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
TUESDAY: Sun/cloud mix. Highs 65-72. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (SEPTEMBER 20-24)
High pressure controls the weather through mid period as we wrap up summer 2023 and welcome autumn with the equinox on September 23. By the end of the period we may be looking to our south at approaching tropical moisture and increased cloudiness and possibly more wet weather.
DAYS 11-15 (SEPTEMBER 25-29)
A wet weather chance may exist early in the period before high pressure re-takes control with a generally dry and mild pattern for late September.