Ahead of what forecasters described as a “tranquil” weekend, parts of Massachusetts could see isolated thunderstorms beginning around midday Friday.
The thunderstorms will arrive on the back of a cold front moving into the Berkshires Friday morning, then slowly drifting east across the rest of the Bay State. As the front moves toward Central Massachusetts, it will collide with an axis of deeper moisture and instability, creating a “solid or nearly solid line of thunderstorms,” National Weather Service forecasters wrote.
Climate change intensified weather that fuelled deadly wildfires in Türkiye, Greece and CyprusClimate change intensified weather that fuelled deadly wildfires in Türkiye, Greece and Cyprus
The storms should start developing between 1 and 3 p.m. in central Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut, then head east or southeast to the Metrowest-Greater Boston-Providence corridor around rush hour, or between 3 and 7 p.m.
From there, the storms should drift down to the South Coast, Cape Cod and the Islands closer to 6 and 9 p.m.
Still, the storms shouldn’t be all that severe.
“Profiles are cold enough aloft to favor small hailstones and perhaps locally gusty winds capable of downing weakened trees,” forecasters wrote.
Forecasters did warn that the redeveloping nature of the storms could bring heavy rain during the evening commute or for those travelling ahead of the holiday weekend. As much as 3 inches of rain could fall in parts of Metrowest and northern Providence County.
Friday should be noticeably more humid than previous days, but nowhere near muggy, given temperatures in the 70s.
The holiday weekend should be “tranquil, dry and slightly cooler than normal,” forecasters wrote, aside from a few clouds during the day. High temperatures should be in the 70s, with cooler temperatures at night in the mid-to-upper 40s to mid-50s.
“Wouldn`t rule out a spotty shower but the vast majority of the weekend ends up dry,” forecasters wrote.
Looking ahead to next week, more dry weather and seasonable temperatures are expected. Temperatures should warm to the mid to high 70s.
The next chance for rain comes late next week and “early indications are that it could be a decent rainmaker,” forecasters wrote. “But confidence in the details is low.”
More weather
- Mass. weather: Rain, hail, thunderstorms could appear Friday afternoon
- Mass. beach closures: Over 50 beaches closed on Thursday, Aug. 28
- Mass. weather: Last rain for ‘foreseeable future’ could come Friday
- Mass. beach closures: Over 50 beaches are closed on Wednesday, Aug. 27
- Mass. weather: Scattered showers, cool temps to sweep the state
