2:24AM
Thunderstorms made a run for eastern MA on Wednesday night but ran into issues, specifically some warm air above the ground which capped the atmosphere, and in addition to forcing the storms to die out as they moved closer, kept any from forming in the area during the day. A few downpours and storms did regenerate and move across northeastern MA and southeastern NH, but all the activity is now gone. A second disturbance may send a cluster of showers/storms across northern MA and southern NH during the early morning, but no severe weather is expected. During the day Thursday, sunshine will end up dominant as cloudiness from the first batch of storms is offshore and afternoon storms will be only isolated. The main action, in the form of a line or cluster of showers and thunderstorms, will arrive during the later evening or night, and may hold off in much of eastern MA and RI until after 11PM. This will lessen the chance of any severe weather, which will be much less likely well after the maximum daytime heating. Nevertheless, the atmosphere over eastern MA, southern NH, and RI, will be far less stable than it was during Wednesday, so storms are a good bet.
The cold front responsible for the storm threat will be very slow to exit on Friday, and a wave of low pressure forming on it along with upper level low pressure moving in from the west will combine to cause additional showers and possible thunderstorms during the day – a slightly more pessimistic forecast than previous. By Friday night, genuinely drier and much cooler air will finally make it to the region, setting us up for another feel-of-fall day on Saturday, as surface high pressure builds in. Another quick turn-around day will occur Sunday as high pressure sinks to the south and the air warms (but not nearly to the levels of the current spell of heat). Another cold front flies across the region early Monday, sending another chilly air mass in for the early part of next week. Temperature moderation will follow by the middle of next week as the roller-coaster pattern continues.
Updated forecast for southeastern New England (southern NH, eastern MA, and RI)…
TODAY: Some cloudiness and a threat of a shower or thunderstorm northern MA and southern NH early to mid morning, otherwise partly cloudy to mostly sunny and hazy with additional isolated showers or thunderstorms possible during the mid to late afternoon. Continued hot and humid. Highs 80s to around 90 except some 70s South Coast areas. Wind SW 10-20 MPH and gusty.
TONIGHT: Heavier clouds arrive from northwest to southeast along with episodes of showers and thunderstorms, but much of the activity may hold off until later at night. Storms may be strong. Warm and muggy. Lows in the 60s to around 70. Wind variable 5-15 MPH, higher gusts near some storms.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy with episodes of showers and possibly a few thunderstorms. Continued humid. Highs in the 70s. Wind variable to NNW 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy, cooler, lowering humidity. Lows upper 40s outlying valleys to middle 50s urban centers. Wind NW 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny to partly cloudy. Highs in the 60s. Wind NW 10-20 MPH.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 48. High 72.
MONDAY: Variably cloudy. Low 47. High 68.
TUESDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 44. High 64.
WEDNESDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 50. High 72.