Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Boston, MA

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738 FXUS61 KBOX 060644 AFDBOX Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 244 AM EDT Mon May 6 2024 .SYNOPSIS... A period of widespread showers impacts the region tonight with the focus for them this evening. Partial sunshine develops on Monday with much warmer temperatures. A brief band of scattered showers is expected Monday afternoon/evening...but the majority of the time will feature dry weather. Tuesday will be the pick of the week with abundant sunshine and above normal temperatures. Unsettled pattern develops for Wednesday and beyond with below normal temperatures. Some uncertainty revolves around the weekend forecast. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
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3AM Update Today Short-wave energy and associated showers at the surface exit east off the coast of southern New England this morning. This will be followed by increasing temperatures and dewpoints today as southerly flow advects a more warm/moist air mass over southern New England. 925 hPa temps rise close to 15 Celsius, so we should experience very warm temperatures in the low to mid 70s across the interior this afternoon. While the sun is likely to break out at times, there will continue to be a fair amount of low clouds in place as well, especially over the south coast, Cape, and Islands where the sun may not break out at all with low-stratus persisting into tonight. With not as much sunshine and the expectation that sea-breezes will develop, these locations near the coast will be noticeably cooler than across the interior with highs in the low to mid 60s more common. While most areas should stay dry today, there will be chances for some mid-afternoon showers to develop as another embedded short-wave traverses over the region. Can`t rule out a rumble of thunder either as there will be modest amounts of instability in the atmosphere to the tune of 100-300 J/kg of CAPE. Expect any shower/thunderstorm activity to be limited to the interior as sea-breezes would be expected to stabilize the atmosphere near the coast.
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&& .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM TUESDAY/...
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Tonight Low clouds fill back in after sunset tonight as the boundary layer cools. Light winds and high dewpoints will likely result in areas of fog developing this evening as well. However, low-level winds in the 925-850 hPa layer shift northwest as a mid-level trough axis shifts east of the region. This will support winds shifting to the north at the surface which will allow drier air to displace the fog/low- stratus gradually overnight. Expect clearing skies by sunrise. Low temps in the low to mid 50s. Tomorrow Beautiful day on tap for Tuesday. High pressure and a dry air mass will support very warm and sunny conditions. 925 hPa air temps in the mid to upper teens will support another afternoon with temps in the mid to upper 70s. Can`t rule out a few locations in the CT River Valley topping 80. Light northerly winds to start will become more westerly as the day progresses. By far the pick of the week if you enjoy warm/sunny weather.
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&& .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
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* Progressively cooler this period, especially Fri and Sat * Wet weather at times Wednesday through Friday, but also periods of dry weather too * Possibly trending drier next weekend, with showers not as widespread and limited during the afternoon/early evening Synoptic Overview... By late Tue/Tue night, a high amplitude closed low will be located over the Dakotas. Models, including ensembles then differ on the evolution of jet energy ejecting eastward from this closed low eastward into New England. This will impact frontal position across SNE, along with timing and amplitude of frontal waves. Hence, a low confidence forecast this period. Forecast confidence increases slight for next weekend, as ensembles in better agreement, with mean trough axis over SNE, displacing deep layer moisture well offshore. This will favor drier weather with shower threat more diurnally driven across SNE. Precipitation... As mentioned above, anomalous closed low over the Dakotas late Tue moves slowly east mid to late week. Models, including ensembles displaying a large spread in the timing of jet energy ejecting eastward out of this low and eventually into New England. This results in a low confidence forecast this period, specifically in regards to frontal boundary placement, including magnitude and timing of frontal waves traversing this boundary. Hence, rain likely at times, although periods of dry weather too. Unfortunately, given model spread, too difficult at this time range to nail down exact timing of specifics. Ensembles offer some support of drier weather for the weekend, with mean trough axis over SNE. This will shift deep layer moisture and frontal wave offshore. However, cyclonic flow aloft and cold pool will yield a risk of diurnal instability showers. Not widespread, but unfortunately timing will be in the afternoon and evening hours. Temperatures... High forecast confidence on a cooler temperature regime this period, in response to lowering heights across New England. Seasonably cool Wed with highs in the 60s, but then cooling off into the 50s Thu, especially in eastern MA behind departing wave with N-NE winds across SNE. Coolest weather could arrive Fri pending track and intensity of surface wave tracking SE of New England. Depending on amplitude of wave, could be chilly with onshore only yielding highs in the 50s. Ensemble 850 mb temp anomalies are impressive, about -6C cooler than normal. In fact, ensemble probs of 50+ highs Friday drop to less than 50% across northern MA. Hence, could see highs only in the 40s there. Chilly weather likely lingers into Saturday given below normal heights/cold pool aloft. Temps may moderate to seasonal levels by Sunday, as flow becomes NW aloft and cold pool moves offshore.
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&& .AVIATION /07Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
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Forecast Confidence Levels: Low - less than 30 percent. Moderate - 30 to 60 percent. High - greater than 60 percent. 06Z TAF Update Through 12Z...High Confidence MVFR/IFR conditions persist through 12Z with patchy areas of fog developing. -SHRA continues over The Cape/Islands with light southeasterly winds. Today...Moderate Confidence MVFR/IFR conditions early should scatter out to VFR by 12-14Z across the interior and at BOS. MVFR/IFR conditions persist over the south coast, Cape, and Islands. Winds light out of the west/southwest. Sea-breeze developing at BOS by mid to late morning. Tonight...High Confidence MVFR/IFR conditions fill back in across the interior and persist over the south coast, Cape, and Islands through about 06Z. Winds shift to the north after that time frame and allow ceilings to gradually improve to VFR by 09-12Z. Tomorrow...High Confidence VFR. Light northerly winds becoming light out of the west. Sea- breezes likely along the coast with very warm temps forecast over land. KBOS TAF...Moderate Confidence in TAF. BOS should scatter out for a few hours this morning into early afternoon before returning to MVFR by early to mid afternoon. Moderate confidence in a sea- breeze circulation developing today between 14 and 16Z. Higher confidence in a sea- breeze for Tuesday. KBDL TAF...High Confidence in TAF. Outlook /Tuesday Night through Friday/... Tuesday Night: VFR. Slight chance RA. Wednesday: Mainly MVFR, with local IFR possible. Chance RA. Wednesday Night: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Chance RA. Thursday: Mainly VFR, with areas MVFR possible. Breezy. Chance RA. Thursday Night: Mainly MVFR, with areas IFR possible. Breezy. Chance RA. Friday: Mainly VFR, with areas IFR possible. Breezy. Chance RA.
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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. Today through Tomorrow...High Confidence Modest winds and seas continue today and tomorrow. Expect areas of fog over the coastal waters this morning and this afternoon as moisture increases from southerly winds. Fog should dissipate tonight into tomorrow as a weak cold front ushers drier air over the coastal waters. Outlook /Tuesday Night through Friday/... Tuesday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Wednesday: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain. Wednesday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Slight chance of rain. Thursday: Winds less than 25 kt. Chance of rain. Thursday Night: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up to 25 kt. Areas of seas approaching 5 ft. Chance of rain. Friday: Low risk for Small Craft Advisory winds with gusts up to 25 kt. Seas up to 5 ft. Chance of rain.
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&& .BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...None. MA...None. RI...None. MARINE...None. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Nocera/RM NEAR TERM...RM SHORT TERM...RM LONG TERM...Nocera AVIATION...Nocera/RM MARINE...Nocera/RM