10:25AM
With the midweek bout of heat and humidity, the severe thunderstorms, and the heavy rain and areas of flooding associated with the passage of Hurricane Arthur all behind us (except for recovery in southeastern MA where some of the flooding was very significant), it’s time to look ahead to the remainder of the “Fourth of July” Weekend.
As the cyclone that was once Arthur moves away, now without tropical characteristics, its wind field has expanded as it typical of these storms, and up against high pressure building in from the west, we have a tightened pressure gradient which translates to a gusty wind for today. This will keep up into the afternoon before diminishing by evening. So you may need some help keeping your cookout stuff from blowing off the tables outside. A benefit of this air flow is the transportation of refreshing air into the region. But lingering moisture on the ground from yesterday’s rain will be heated by the sun, rise skyward, and will result in some pop up fair weather clouds that will share the sky with the sun midday and afternoon. Once we get to Sunday, high pressure sinks to the south of the region, the remains of Arthur are long gone, and we’re into a dry and warmer westerly air flow. We should see about 100% of the possible on on Sunday – a great day to end the weekend.
Looking into next week, humidity comes back Monday through Wednesday, and it gets a little hotter, but not majorly so. A frontal system wavering around in the vicinity late Monday through Wednesday will result in opportunities for showers and thunderstorms from Monday night through Wednesday, but expect it to be rain-free the majority of the time. By Thursday-Friday, drier air should win out as high pressure returns to the Northeast.
Detailed forecast for southeastern New England…
THIS AFTERNOON: Sun mixed with passing clouds. Highs 75-82. Wind NW 10-20 MPH, gusting as high as 30 MPH, diminishing late.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy early, then clear. Lows 55-60 except 60-65 coast and urban areas. Wind W up to 10 MPH.
SUNDAY: Sunny. Highs 78-85. Wind W 10-20 MPH.
MONDAY: Sunny start, variably cloudy finish, chance of showers/thunderstorms at night. Low 62. High 87.
TUESDAY: Partly cloudy. Isolated to scattered showers/thunderstorms mainly afternoon. Low 66. High 88.
WEDNESDAY: Variably cloudy. Episodes of showers/thunderstorms, mainly morning. Low 68. High 82.
THURSDAY: Partly cloudy. Low 63. High 81.
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny. Low 64. High 84.