DAYS 1-5 (AUGUST 20-24)
A frontal boundary moves through our region today then settles just to the southeast Friday through the weekend. At the same time a broader trough of low pressure will move into the Northeast via the Midwest and Great Lakes and take through Monday to entirely cross our region. What this means is that the next 5 days will be unsettled, even though we start out with plenty of sunshine in the region today. What this doesn’t mean is that we see rain most of the time, although we can see some significant rainfall for portions of the region, depending on a set of details and how they take place. A little uncertainty with these can lead to quick-needed forecast adjustments as we move through this period of time, but here’s my current best shot on how I think it’ll play out. Today, as the front moves through, we see clouds move in as it passes by as a weak low pressure wave travels along it, and this brings us some generally light rainfall this evening / tonight. This first wave has been shown by some guidance to slow down and take its time moving by the region on Friday, being a focus for some heavier shower activity when acted on by limited sunshine. If this occurs, the greatest chance is in eastern CT, RI, and southeastern MA. A follow-up wave has been shown by guidance to take a range of tracks, some right over the region, some further southeast, some slower, some faster. My leaning is for a wave that brings the best shot of rain to southeastern MA, RI, and eastern CT later Friday to midday Saturday, with less of a chance to the north and northwest. When we get to Sunday and Monday, I suspect we’ll see a pattern of more scattered shower and possible thunderstorm activity with a bit more established southerly air flow in the region, along with a bit warmer and more noticeably humid air.
TODAY: Sun followed by clouds. Light rain chances increase later in the day especially south and west of Boston. Highs 77-84. Dew point 60+. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Cloudy. Light rain at times. Patchy fog forms. Lows 61-68. Dew point 60+. Wind variable under 10 MPH.
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny. Shower chances shift mainly I-95 belt southeastward, with a few heavier showers and t-storms possible. Highs 75-82. Dew point around 60. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly cloudy. Fog patches. Showers most likely I-95 belt southeastward. Lows 60-67. Dew point 60+. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy start with greatest shower chances I-95 belt southeastward, then a sun / cloud mix with a pop-up shower possible. Highs 76-83. Dew point near 60. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog. Lows 60-67. Dew point near 60. Wind S under 10 MPH.
SUNDAY: Partly sunny. Afternoon pop-up showers and thunderstorms possible. Highs 78-85. Dew point in 60s. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
SUNDAY NIGHT: Partly to mostly cloudy. Patchy fog. A shower possible. Lows 62-69. Dew point 60+. Wind SW under 10 MPH.
MONDAY: Mostly cloudy. Showers possible. Chance of thunderstorms. Highs 78-85. Dew point in 60s. Wind SW 5-15 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (AUGUST 25-29)
Watch for a couple disturbances and shower chances, but overall more dry times than wet ones. Temperatures near normal.
DAYS 11-15 (AUGUST 30 – SEPTEMBER 3)
A couple disturbance may induce shower chances, but the pattern overall looks more dry than wet. Temperatures near normal.