6:42AM

DAYS 1-5…
Happy July to you all! This section will spotlight the first 5 days of this new month, including the Fourth of July Weekend! Of most immediate concern is the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms across southern New England today. The most numerous activity will come in waves associated with a warm front passing through the region during this morning. Clusters of showers and thunderstorms are likely, some potentially strong with torrential rain, lightning, and gusty winds. There is a remote risk for hail and damaging wind. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out. As we get to afternoon, the warm front will have passed through and a cold front will be approaching. A more humid and fairly unstable air mass ahead of the approaching cold front will promote additional scattered showers and thunderstorms, less numerous than the morning activity but still with the potential for an isolated stronger storm. By tonight, all activity will be diminishing and pushing offshore and then we enter a fairly quiet stretch of weather Thursday through Sunday, including the Independence Day holiday itself on Saturday. A couple weak waves of low pressure will stay south of the region but will throw some high cloudiness across the sky at times Thursday and Friday. In addition, you may notice a hazy look to the sky at times Thursday into the weekend. This would be due to smoke from forest fires in western Canada. This is not a highly unusual occurrence and takes place when smoke rises from the fires and is transported by the middle and upper level winds. See the comments section below for more on today’s weather. Onto the 5-day forecast…
TODAY: Mainly cloudy through midday with numerous showers and thunderstorms arriving southwest to northeast with some storms producing torrential rain and frequent lightning. Some storms potentially producing damaging wind and possibly hail. Variably cloudy including breaks of sun mid afternoon on with scattered to isolated showers and thunderstorms, still with a few potentially strong storms. Becoming humid. Highs in the 70s, may touch 80 away from the coast in any areas that see enough sun. Wind SE to S up to 10 MPH this morning though may shift briefly to SW with moderate to strong gusts with any storms, then S to SW 10-20 MPH with stronger gusts near any additional storms this afternoon.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy with any lingering showers and thunderstorms ending early, then clearing. Becoming less humid. Lows 60-65, a few upper 50s interior valleys. Wind SW to W 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY: Sunshine filtered at times by high clouds and possibly smoke aloft, most clouds southern MA and RI in the afternoon. Highs 70s South Coast/Cape Cod, 80-85 elsewhere. Wind W 5-15 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 60-65. Wind light W.
FRIDAY: Sunshine filtered at times by high clouds and possibly smoke aloft, most clouds southern MA and RI in the morning. Highs 70s coast, 80-85 interior. Wind light variable with light sea breezes.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Lows in the 60s.
SATURDAY – INDEPENDENCE DAY: Sunny to partly cloudy. Highs 70s South Coast, 80-85 elsewhere.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear. Evening temps in 70s. Overnight lows in 60s.
SUNDAY: Sunny to partly cloudy. Highs 70s South Coast, 80-85 elsewhere.

DAYS 6-10 (JULY 6-10)…
A weak trough is expected in the Great Lakes to the Northeast with a flat ridge of high pressure to the south and in the western Atlantic. This pattern keeps Summer heat at bay and weak disturbances promote a few episodes of showers and thunderstorms. Temperatures overall expected to be close to normal with rainfall near to below normal.

DAYS 11-15 (JULY 11-15)…
Jet stream lifts a little to the north and the pattern shifts to one of near to above normal temperatures with continued near to below normal rainfall. This is going to depends on the orientation of upper level low pressure in Canada, which should elongate more west-to-east and weaken slightly, allowing for the northward shift in the jet stream.