Short Spell Of Cooler Weather Coming

80 Comments

1:05AM

A 24-hour transition out of heat and humidity to somewhat cooler and drier weather will take place during the course of Wednesday as a cold front settles southward through southern New England.  This front will set off some scattered thunderstorms, the first threat having been realized over parts of southern NH and briefly into northeastern MA Tuesday evening, a second threat possible in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, and finally a third threat mainly near and south of the Mass Pike during the afternoon and evening hours Wednesday. Even into Thursday, some clouds may linger in South Coastal New England as the front will not be that far away. Enough of a push southward should allow a refreshing airmass to move in Thursday night through Saturday. The small area of high pressure that is at the center of this airmass will quickly settle to the south, allowing humidity to return Sunday, and a front from the west will bring the chance of showers and thunderstorms as early as Sunday night into Monday, based on current timing (still several days to pinpoint).

Forecast for eastern MA,  southern NH, and RI…

OVERNIGHT: Variably cloudy. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms. Warm/muggy. Lows in the 70s, few upper  60s. Wind W 5-15 MPH with higher gusts.

WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny through midday, then mostly cloudy. Scattered showers and thunderstorms developing especially near and south of the Mass Pike by mid afternoon, continuing mostly in southern MA and RI through evening, less of a chance to the north. Highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s but  may cool back toward 80 in some areas north of the Mass Pike during the afternoon. Wind variable up to 10 MPH but some higher wind gusts around any storms.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Mild and slightly less humid. Lows in the 60s. Wind variable to N up to 10 MPH.

THURSDAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny in southern MA including Cape Cod as well as RI, and partly to mostly sunny in areas to the north. Warm and less humid. Highs in the lower to middle 80s. Wind N 5-15 MPH.

FRIDAY: Mostly sunny to  partly cloudy. Low 60. High 79.

SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 58. High 81.

SUNDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 62. High 86.

MONDAY: Mostly cloudy. Chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low 66. High 82.

TUESDAY: Partly sunny. Low 65. High 84.

80 thoughts on “Short Spell Of Cooler Weather Coming”

  1. TK, thanks for the HHH break later this week.

    Reading a little about the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) and hurricanes, and my understanding is that at this time of the year (July), the SAL keeps the middle and lower air levels very dry and can be full of sand / dust. A strong deterrent to moist tropical convection. Then the article went on to say that this drier more stable air mass can start to moisten up in the 2nd week of August, though it never explained why this happens in August.

    I know the Cape Verde lows come shooting off Africa at that point in time, but when I think about the Sahara in August, the word “moist” does not exactly come to mind. The article was sparse on explanation. So where does this moist air suddenly come from? In August off the Sahara? I realize there is possibly a 100 or a 100,000 word answer. The former works fine for me. Thank you.

  3. Thanks TK.
    Watching those skies as a front comes through and pushes away the humidity and brings in a nice change. We will have to pay the price with strong to severe storms this afternoon. This has been consistent and it still looks like areas south of the pike will have the greatest threat of seeing severe weather although can’t rule out a strong to locally severe storm pike north. The biggest threats will be heavy rainfall, vivid lightning, hail, and damaging winds.
    Thunderstorm Index 3 south of the pike and a 2 pike north. Thankfully the setup is not there for tornadic thunderstorms today.

    1. Wow really- I haven’t seen a 2 let alone a 3 from you in a bit.

      Is it safe to say “I’m living on the edge” – sorry, couldn’t help myself 😆

  8. at 12:16

    96F, 70 dp, wind gusts up to 8 mph

    clouds building somewhat – have’nt checked radar

  9. some light shower activity has been forming across the coastal plain as well as increasing cloud cover. currently cloudy here in billerica with a west south west wind. with current temp at 92 degrees and it is humid. there is a smaller wind coming from the northeast as well which I think might be maritime air tring to work its way in.

  11. Still sunny down here in Plymouth but can see the clouds starting to build. I am actually looking forward to going outside to the heat since my office is so damn cold! Heading to Easton for a meeting so it will be interesting to see what kind of weather I have for my ride to and from.

  16. Whew eeee – huge cell on north shore – where did that come from? I looked at the radar after I posted my 12:16 comment and there was NOTHING

    1. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A

      * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… ESSEX COUNTY IN EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS… SOUTHEASTERN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY IN SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE… NORTHERN MIDDLESEX COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS…

      * UNTIL 200 PM EDT

      * AT 1248 PM EDT… DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR PEPPERELL… OR 5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NASHUA… AND MOVING EAST AT 30 MPH.

      * LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE… LOWELL… NASHUA… LAWRENCE… BEVERLY… NEWBURYPORT… DRACUT… PELHAM… NORTH ANDOVER… GROVELAND… HAVERHILL… NEWBURY… WEST NEWBURY… PEABODY… METHUEN… HAMILTON… WENHAM… CHELMSFORD… DANVERS… WILMINGTON AND AMESBURY.

      PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

      SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH… DESTRUCTIVE HAIL… DEADLY LIGHTNING AND VERY HEAVY RAIN. FOR YOUR PROTECTION… MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. HEAVY RAINS FLOOD ROADS QUICKLY SO DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREAS WHERE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.

      1. Thank you, Vicki! Hope you are feeling better. Haven’t been posting due to a lot of things going on here. Computer has been off and on and we have been kind of depressed about our cat. But we may get a new one.

        The front must be moving 1 or 2 miles an hour – if that. I don’t want to see anything severe but I would like to see a good downpour for all the gardens and lawns.

        1. Hi rainshine. I am improving and have been thinking about you. I know it’s so difficult to decide whether to get a new cat.

      1. 3/4 inch rain Stoneham in 15 min. Potential for 3 in diameter hail. Todd says monster supercell storm

        1. Tornado warning cancelled. Storm off coast. All of route 1 is flooded. Sorry for so many posts but info is coming in piecemeal. Cape Ann is a mess too I understand. Temp there went 89 to 75 in minutes.

  18. My daughter in Uxbridge and that area now under the gun with another warning. Reports of cars submerged and people trapped on north shore. I can’t believe how quickly these things are forming

    1. there was an area of concern on the southern end of the cell. If you see the hook then it is necessary.

      1. I could even see the hook. I’d rather have it issued and be safe. The pictures 7 has of the clouds are amazing.

  20. was in my pool and then saw really dark clouds got some pics and also some small hail there was alot of wind with it. could not see 10 feet ahead of my self while I was putting the hanging plants down.

  21. Vicki – I know – this bad weather came up fast. I think the mets. said because of the high humidity and and a coastal front. It seems, at this point, the MetroWest area is in-between precip. at this point. Off and on dark in Sudbury.

    John – glad you and your family enjoyed your vacation.
    Is Tom still up in the Adirondacks? I envy him – we used to hike and love the mountains, too.

    Looks like the precip. is starting to expand in MetroWest area.

    1. Just had a sever warning for framingham. We have thunder. Again it came from nowhere but seems to be a small cell. Rainshine before that I was thinking we were literally in the middle of them all too

      1. Amazing, Vicki! The storm by Framingham came out of nowhere! I can hear some thunder here, too.

        1. It formed over us and then literally just east of us over wayland/natick got 5 times bigger. Although thunder strong here now so who knows how the radar has changed since I looked at it 2 minutes ago

  23. That was a decent line of storms, boy did we need it!! .54 of rain in 30-45 min a wind gust to 54 mph

    1. Hi Charlie,

      I got .25 here. Just goes to show you that with these summertime thunderstorms, you can get different amount of rain in the same town! The rain has let up at my house now but there is still alot of thunder and lightning. It is down to 74 after a high of 97 just 90 minutes ago!

  24. Not sure I have ever seen this much lightening in one day. The drive from Easton back to Plymouth was insane.

  27. I believe that northeast mass has seen the end of any severe weather since an east northeast wind has formed , weather station is recording sustained winds of 5-10 mph with wind gusts of 15 , maritime air is working to kill any chance of thunderstorms right now. There is a thick blanket of clouds but no rain. areas in south of the pike will continue to see thunderstorms. I will not be surprised if the severe thunderstorm watch is caneccled for areas north of the pike or at least northeast mass

    1. Torrential rain here finally. It’s louder than the thunder. My husband is driving right into this. Ugh.

      No warning for this cell Hadi. Hmmm

  29. What an afternoon across parts of SNE. The ingredients came together for some nasty storms.

    1. Hi JJ. It’s been a crazy afternoon. I don’t know why there isn’t. Warning attached to the cell going along the pike into Boston now. Thunder is not tremendous but the rain and wind are incredible. We have over .3 now and rain still going sideways. Wind from the southeast which is unusual so my porch alone has about 1/4 inch of rain on it

  30. Hadi and Vicki, it looks like you are getting one cell after another right now. Be careful. Those look pretty potent.

    1. I was posting the same time you were. We are. And my husband is driving into all of them from Watertown to framingham.

      1. Hopefully it eases up some for the rest of his ride, but it doesn’t look promising. Mike Wankum was just commenting how the storms are along rt. 3, up the expressway and sourthern end of 128 and then west along the mass pike. Right over the roads, how strange!

        We are starting to get thunder here again now. There is cell moving across northern RI towards us now.

    1. the line goes west of you and keeps regenerating. It is crazy. Looks like a cell is along the pike, entering 495 now. Looks to be going Vicki’s way. Stay safe and watch out for the flash flooding too.

  33. Topkatt did you see the funnel cloud. They said that there was a funnel cloud spotted in woburn.

  34. BZ lost power ? Funnel cloud. Yikes. The last cell is moving thru here now and has much worse lightning and thunder with it. No rain yet with it. Sun nearly came out between cells. Husband is home. Took him 2x normal.

    1. Glad your husband is home now, Vicki. I heard Rte. 9 in Framingham is flooded in areas. We used to live in that area for many years – wow.

      1. Husband and SIL,just headed to Ashland to pick up my car at mechanic. I called to tell them to stay away from rt 9 after I read your post. He said they went over 9 in two places and traffic is horrendous. TX rainshine

  35. Torrential rain and thunder in Sudbury now. Doppler radar seems to show storm cells moving north now instead of south?

    1. The direction switch happened as fast as the storms popped up. I think the direction happened with that train of storms down the pike. And how odd that the storms followed the roads.

      Sun trying to break through now. I not like the damage and danger but weather is fascinating. And I love hearing from everyone here what’s happening in their area. And how some areas so close like Christie’s didn’t get anything

  36. It’s crazy to see the flooding, hail, and tornado footage on the news… I haven’t even seen a drop of rain where I am in Worcester. The line of storms earlier formed just a hair south and east of my location. I could hear thunder and it got incredibly dark, but there’s nothing else to report here. Phew!

  37. Not sure if it is my imagination, but lately a lot of the heavy weather has been well east of the Berkshires this past spring and summer. I could be wrong on that. Of course, last yr. it was totally different with the tornadoes in the Springfield area. The reason could be due to coastal fronts – I leave that up to more knowledgeable people here on the blog to explain that one. But I’m not sure why coastal fronts would be affecting us more this summer.

  38. Wow…interesting reading….hope everyone is ok ! Quiet out here, still very tropical, but oddly enough, no showers/storms.

  39. Rainshine I was thinking earlier that yet again one line of storms formed literally just east of you and me and then intensified. I haven’t seen that here in years. Of course the last line was training over us but it normally wpuld have come from worcester and christie disnt get anything You have a great point. I’ll be interested to hear thoughts. And it makes me smile to see you here today 🙂

  40. umm 48-52 degrees is not what I call summer time lows. look for thursday night to be cold

  41. I dont want to take away from todays weather but i wanted to say sorry to rainshine on the loss of your cat, and to share a story that may help you. We had a poodle who we lost in a very tragic way. She was 16 when she died. She was old and the last couple yrs of her life she spent alot of time under the bed, so to not see her was normal. We had not been in pembroke that long. One night we were coming home from the town tree lighting, it was cold. We were bringing stuff into the house. After being home for about an hour we decided to get subs, i went to get them. I started the car and went to back up and at the same time felt i ran over somthing and fue worst sound i have ever heard. The dog was under my car and i had run her over. I picked her up and she was bleeding and screaming and limping. She was in so much pain but i thought she would pull through. My wife was a mess as she had this dog before me. I rushed her to the vet. She needed surgery stat. With her age she may have not even made it through it. If she did she would be recovering till the day she died. She was in so much pain. She lived an awesome life. Im at the vet and my wife is home. We could not take a chance. My wife said to put her down. She died in my arms. I was a mess as this was my fault. there is no way i could have known she was under my car. The dog was creameted and is here in the house. That was a sunday night. We were so lost without her. By tuesday night we had a new poodle that looked just like her. We had to. It was christmas and we had to pick ourselves back up for our son. We now have two dogs and a house rabbit. Sorry about this post i just want to help. Get the cat it will help.

  42. My Buisiness associate lives in wellesley. He just dry vacuumed buckets from his basement which rarely floods. I checked wundergroud both wellesley college and Babson park- he’s near both – and they got just under 3 inches. Amazing

  43. I would say that this afternoon was somewhat similar to June 1, 2011 minus any tornado activity…thankfully. In Boston there were no gusty winds or even a nice breeze. As of 8:00 pm the cold front is still draped across northern MA/southern NH…UGH! 🙁

    There is still storm activity along the south coast of SNE the last time I looked at radar. I guess it is going to take most of the night before drier air works in. 🙁

    Btw, HHH returns for early next week. 🙁

      1. Thanks for thinking of me Vicki. Those downpours and thunder didn’t finally quit until 6:30. I remember last June 1st the thunder was persistent as well. Glad you are ok.

        1. June 1 was terrifying.

          Would love to hear from TK. News said funnel cloud was confirmed in Woburn. I know I’m a worrier.

  44. Now that the storms have passed we have a nice stretch of weather with much lower humidity. The ingredients came together with the cold front cutting right through the hot and humid air mass.

  45. I think this one of the days we will remember from this summer. One of the hottest days of the summer and one of the stormiest so far too.

  46. HI EVERYBODY!!!

    Several things to cover…

    Thanks to all of you for reading and posting today and every day! You are what makes this blog what it is!

    I would have liked to make an appearance here before midnight on a very big weather day, but the way my schedule was today kept me on the run pretty much all day and evening, though I did have to alter it due to the weather.

    I saw the initial line of storms from Reading MA. It was nasty there. It got about as dark as I have ever seen it get during the 1PM hour. The CGs were frequent and nasty, many under 1/2 mile away. A few almost no time between lightning & thunder. It rained so hard I couldn’t even tell from inside if there was hail in it.

    My rant: The “funnel cloud” being shown on the news filmed from Cummings Park (you can see Staples across the street in the video) was not a funnel, but part of a front roll cloud. For the few of you that know me on FB, I posted this video on my account and commented on it. I will put it on the WHW FB page as well, and at the end of this entry.

    The tornado warning that was issued for Essex County was warranted however. There was a mesocyclone that formed NW of Lowell and eventually made its way across the Peabody area, exiting into the water via Lynn. Still some uncertainty but possibly a touch down of a brief tornado over water, east of Lynn & Nahant.

    Later, the training back-up cells that were responsible for the microburst in Arlington sent not one, but two shelf clouds northeastward across the Woburn area between 5 & 6PM. I got a couple photos. We did get a brief downpour from that and a few claps of thunder following (from another cell to the SW).

    Power went out briefly a few times between the 1st storm in 7:30PM, but nothing long lasting. Just had to reset some clocks a few times.

    Working on a blog update, looking ahead to the next several days.

  48. Good morning and happy to see you here and read your commentary. How incredible, TK, that you were able to have a front row seat so to speak. I kept looking at the video and thought it looked more like a cloud than a tornado but since I have no eye had no idea what it was. What is it that NOAA (I think) is saying was a tornado – the one further north you spoke of? I saw the damage in Arlington on the news – amazing.

    It was definitely a fascinating weather day and I believe North is very right that it will be remembered. I’m thankful no one was hurt.

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