Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Boston, MA

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160 FXUS61 KBOX 141940 AFDBOX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 340 PM EDT Tue May 14 2024 .SYNOPSIS...
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High pressure offshore provides mild conditions and mainly dry weather tonight and Wednesday. Although, can`t rule out a few brief showers at any given time, especially across CT and western-central MA. Low pressure passing to our south will likely result in a period of showers for the first half of Thursday...at least south of the Massachusetts Turnpike. Otherwise...dry weather should dominate Friday through the weekend other than a spot shower or two. Temperatures will average below normal especially along the immediate coast with onshore flow Thursday through the weekend...but a warming trend is expected early next week.
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&& .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/...
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3 PM Update: Gorgeous spring weather in progress across SNE with abundant sunshine and temps as warm as 82 at BDL and FIT! Modest pressure gradient yielding SSW breeze gusting up to 25 mph at times. Dew points in the 50s helping to provide a mild feel to the airmass. Although, much cooler along the south coast with SSW winds streaming across chilly ocean. For example, only 59 at BID. With sunset SSW winds will begin to diminish. Scattered showers over NYS will likely erode as the activity moves east into drier/more stable airmass over SNE. However, later tonight as closed low currently over TN/OH valley advects eastward, deepening moisture and forcing for ascent will increase somewhat, yielding a low risk for a few showers overnight across CT into western-central MA. Otherwise a dry and mild night ahead, with lows only in the 50s, above normal for mid May.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT/...
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Wednesday... Enough ridging may linger for a mostly dry day, especially across RI and eastern MA. A few showers possible across CT into western-central MA, where some differential heating across the hilly terrain may be in play. Otherwise, a mainly dry day with even be some sunshine Wed across RI and eastern MA, more clouds westward into CT and western/central MA. This partial sunshine will combine with warm temps aloft and yield highs 70-75, 60s along the coast where light onshore flow/seabreeze develops. Dew pts in the 50s will also provide a mild feel to the airmass. Wednesday night... Closed low southwest of New England begins to circulate deeper moisture and low level easterly jet into CT/RI and southeast MA. This is where the risk of rain is highest. Some uncertainty how far north this rain shield will pivot, as mid level low tracks ESE. Thus, rain shield may remain south of the Mass Pike. Mild temps continue with lows in the 50s. Light south winds become east by Thu morning.
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&& .LONG TERM /THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
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Key Points... * Showers likely the first part of Thu at least south of I-90 * Highs Thu-Sun...55-65 on immediate coast & 65-75 distant interior * Mainly dry Fri/Sat/Sun...but clouds & a spot shower at times * Warming trend likely early next week Details... Thursday... Low pressure will be passing south of the Benchmark on Thu. There is uncertainty with the northern extent of the rain shield especially given limited baroclinicity this time of year...it can often be quite challenging. Current thinking is that we probably will see a period of showers during the first part of Thu...at least to the south of I-90. Later shifts will need to make adjustments depending on model trends. Onshore flow will likely hold high temps in the upper 50s to the lower 60s on the immediate coast & 60s/near 70 further inland. Friday/Saturday/Sunday... High pressure over the Canadian Maritimes will combined with a distant offshore low pressure system...Fri into the weekend. This will generate an onshore flow and keep temps cool/below normal especially along the immediate coast. Further inland...temps more tricky and dependent on the amount of solar insolation. There might be clouds at times with the onshore flow...but also periods of sunshine as drier air may get circulated around the high pressure in the Maritimes. Therefore...thinking high temps generally in the 55 to 65 degree range along the immediate coast & between 65 and 75 across the distant interior. High pressure nosing down from the Maritimes may be enough to keep most of the precipitation risk to our west and south Fri/Sat/Sun. We may see a spot shower or two...but overall thinking dry weather dominates. Early Next Week... There are some indications that the upper level energy to our south will weaken and also get suppressed further south. This should allow for some rising height fields and warming temperatures. There is uncertainty as to how quick and to what magnitude this process may occur...but thinking a warming trend is in the cards.
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&& .AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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Forecast Confidence Levels: Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. 18Z TAF Update: Thru 00z...high confidence. VFR, dry weather and gusty SSW winds 15-25 kt. After 00z...moderate confidence. Some uncertainty on timing and how far east MVFR cigs track tonight. VFR cloud bases along with SSW winds diminishing and becoming south. Isolated to widely scattered showers across CT into western-central MA. These showers likely accompanied by MVFR cigs. Otherwise, mainly dry runways for RI and eastern MA. Wednesday...moderate confidence. Some uncertainty on coverage of MVFR cigs and areal coverage of showers. Light south winds with widespread VFR cloud bases. Isolated showers with marginal MVFR/VFR cigs across CT into western MA. Wednesday night...moderate confidence. Light S-SE winds become east overnight. VFR conditions become MVFR overnight, as rain shield comes onshore to the south coast of CT/RI/MA. Forecast uncertainty in how far north this rain shield tracks overnight. KBOS TAF...High confidence in TAF. Gusty SSW winds 15-25 kt slowly slacken with sunset. KBDL TAF...High confidence in TAF. Gusty SSW winds 15-25 kt diminish with sunset. Outlook /Thursday through Sunday/... Thursday: Mainly MVFR, with areas VFR possible. Breezy. Chance SHRA. Thursday Night: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Breezy. Chance SHRA. Friday through Friday Night: VFR. Breezy. Saturday: Mainly VFR, with local MVFR possible. Breezy. Slight chance SHRA. Saturday Night: Mainly MVFR, with areas IFR possible. Breezy. Slight chance SHRA. Sunday: Mainly MVFR, with local IFR possible. Breezy. Slight chance SHRA.
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&& .MARINE...
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Forecaster Confidence Levels: Low - less than 30 percent. Medium - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. Update: 3 PM Tonight... SCA thru this evening for SSW winds up to 25 kt near shore where greatest heating/warmest temps mixing stronger winds to the surface. Winds diminish after sunset. High pressure offshore provides mainly dry weather tonight, but patchy fog may develop over the southern MA/RI waters. Wednesday... Weak high pressure offshore results in light S-SE winds. Mainly dry weather and any morning fog burns off by midday with good vsby thereafter. Wednesday... Low pressure south of New England drifts north, with increasing east winds 15-20 kt toward Thu morning. Vsby lowers to 1-3 miles in areas of fog and rain, especially southern MA and RI waters. Outlook /Wednesday Night Thursday through Thursday Night: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up to 30 kt. Areas of rough seas. Chance of rain showers. Friday: Moderate risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up to 30 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Slight chance of rain showers. Friday Night: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Saturday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Saturday Night through Sunday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Slight chance of rain showers.
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&& .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
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CT...None. MA...None. RI...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for ANZ230>237-251.
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&& $$ SYNOPSIS...Frank/Nocera NEAR TERM...Nocera SHORT TERM...Nocera LONG TERM...Frank AVIATION...Frank/Nocera MARINE...Frank/Nocera