Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Boston, MA

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541 FXUS61 KBOX 120138 AFDBOX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 938 PM EDT Tue Jun 11 2024 .SYNOPSIS... Weak high pressure will maintain dry conditions through Wednesday, but a passing shower cannot be ruled out Wednesday afternoon in Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts. Warmer and more humid weather will arrive Thursday and Friday, then an approaching cold front will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening. High pressure builds in for the weekend bringing drier weather with cooler temperatures and low humidity. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/...
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10 PM Update: Pesky upper low is still maintaining its grip on the Northeast with plenty of cloudiness. The remaining spot showers have now dissipated, but cloudiness should linger through midnight before more clearing occurs. Temps across the region have already begun to fall into the low 60s on there way down to the low to mid 50s later tonight.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/... 215 PM Update: Wednesday: Although the upper-level low over New England is expected to pull away from the Northeast later in the day, the forecast for Wed is essentially similar to today. Residual cyclonic flow aloft and a modifying cold pool should again support clouds filling back in with a partial to mostly cloudy look, and that should also keep temperatures from reaching into widespread low 80s as today`s NBM is advertising. At least a lighter westerly flow could bring highs closer to the upper 70s in western MA and much of northern CT though, with highs in the lower to mid 70s for eastern/northeast MA and much of RI. Latest guidance seems a bit more bullish on isolated to scattered shower chances Wed than today, as the east coast sea breeze generates a mesoscale convergence zone in eastern MA/RI with the lighter westerly flow across the interior. Dewpoints are also a touch higher too over the coastal plain, and while the NAM`s dewpoints still look a few degrees too high, values in the mid 50s seem reasonable enough to yield surface based CAPEs of around 500 J/kg or less; phrased as isolated to scattered showers with 20-40% PoP though as BUFKIT soundings from even the bullish NAM indicate the layer of instability doesn`t reach into the -10C isothermal layer for lightning. 12z HREF 1-hourly thunder probs are also zero, with low probs confined to northern ME/NH closer to where the upper low is progged. The risk for scattered showers should be limited to just the MA/RI coastal plain around or within a few miles either side of I-495; westerly non-convergent flow further inland into CT and western MA should result in mainly dry weather there. QPF amts likely no higher than a few hundredths of an inch in any one area, so a few showers to dodge but nothing too significant. Wednesday Night: Cloud cover with scattered light showers should dissipate shortly after sundown towards mostly clear skies for the overnight. Temperatures warm a bit aloft and that should help offset radiational cooling to an extent with lows in the 50s, to low 60s in the urban areas. With clear skies and light winds, there`s an outside chance at patchy radiational fog, with somewhat better chances of development where showers developed during the daytime hrs. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... Highlights: * Increasing heat and humidity Thursday into Friday. A cold front brings showers and thunderstorms on Friday afternoon and evening with drier and more comfortable conditions for Father`s Day Weekend. * There is potential for significant warm-up next week as highlighted by a moderate risk for excessive heat. Thursday... Looking at a sunny and warm day ahead with surface high pressure is off shore and shortwave ridging aloft. Southwest flow ushers in warm temperature aloft, 925mb temperatures are in the neighborhood of +19C to +23C, yielding highs between 85-90 degrees. Southwest wind keep coastal Rhode Island, south coast of Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the islands slightly cooler in the 70s. While it is not overly humid, it will be noticeable as dewpoints creep into the upper 50s and low 60s, highest near the coast and lowest in the interior. Friday... As advertised, a cold front passage with the associated near-neutral shortwave trough pushes across the northeast during Friday afternoon and evening. Ahead of the front, robust southwest flow will increase our temperatures and especially the humidity. Temperatures aloft are very similar to Thursday, thus expecting another day with highs between 85-90 degrees. Though the main difference are the higher dewpoints, with PWATs surging to either side of 1.7 inch, dewpoints are largely in the mid 60s. Combination of the heat and humidity will fuel storms during the afternoon. Depending on which guidance source, there is roughly 800 to 1200 J/km of SB CAPE. In addition, modest jet dynamics provide roughly 40 knots of 0-6km shear. Leading to a few storms during the afternoon, but will largely depends on the timing of the frontal passage. In addition, high PWATs may lead to locally heavy downpours, which may cause nuisance flooding, as highlighted by the Marginal Risk for Excessive Rainfall Outlook. Father`s Day Weekend... Drying out and falling humidity this coming weekend, a nice reprieve from the humidity, as surface high pressure moves down from Canada. PWATs drop in most cases below 0.3 inch on Saturday and 0.5 inch on Sunday. That said, we are looking at mainly clear skies both days with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s, and dewpoints in the 40s to low 50s. With clear skies and potential for light winds on Saturday night, there is the possibility for radiational cooling, which could lead to a cooler than normal start on Sunday, Father`s Day. Early risers or golfers could be greeted by temperatures in the upper 40s across the interior. Next Week... Dry weather continues into early next week as surface high pressure sits along the east coast. Though the bigger talking point is the potential well above normal temperatures... not only during the day but also overnight. This is highlighted by the moderate risk for excessive heat mid to late next week. && .AVIATION /02Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Forecast Confidence Levels: Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. 00z TAF Update: High confidence. Isolated showers in central MA will dissipate soon after sunset but VFR ceilings will linger into tonight before many areas clear out overnight. Similar conditions expected Wed with another round of VFR ceilings and isolated showers, primarily in eastern MA and perhaps RI, with VFR ceilings gradually clearing out Wed night. Light winds will give way to coastal sea breezes again Wed. KBOS TAF...High confidence in TAF. KBDL TAF...High confidence in TAF. Outlook /Thursday through Sunday/... Thursday through Thursday Night: VFR. Breezy. Friday: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Breezy. Chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA. Friday Night: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA. Saturday through Sunday: VFR. && .MARINE... Forecaster Confidence Levels: Low - less than 30 percent. Medium - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. 215 PM Update: Winds and seas/waves to remain below small craft advisory levels through this portion of the marine forecast period. Light mainly southerly winds around 10 kt or less should be the rule tonight through Wednesday night, though could turn easterly nearest the shoreline with seabreezes. Seas mainly 3 ft or less, with 1-2 ft seas near shore. There could be a hit or miss shower Wed aftn near the coastlines. Could see fog develop Wed evening over the outer waters. Outlook /Thursday through Sunday/... Thursday: Winds less than 25 kt. Thursday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of seas approaching 5 ft. Friday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Chance of rain showers. Friday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft. Chance of rain showers, isolated thunderstorms, patchy fog. Areas of visibility 1 to 3 nm. Saturday: Winds less than 25 kt. Areas of seas approaching 5 ft. Slight chance of rain showers. Saturday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft. Sunday: Winds less than 25 kt. && .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. MA...None. RI...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Loconto/Dooley NEAR TERM...KP/JWD SHORT TERM...Loconto LONG TERM...Dooley AVIATION...JWD MARINE...Loconto/Dooley