Boston

Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Eastern Massachusetts

A powerful cold front is fueling thunderstorms across the region

What to Know

  • Today (Thursday): Hot and very humid, scattered afternoon and evening thunder. Highs in the 90s, heat index around 100°.
  • Overnight Thursday Night: Chance shower, less humid. Lows in the 60s.
  • Friday: Stubborn clouds, limited sun, much cooler. Highs in the 70s.

Severe thunderstorm warnings have been issued for parts of eastern Massachusetts.

The warnings are in effect for parts of Norfolk, Plymouth and Bristol counties until 5:30 p.m. Middlesex and Suffolk counties are also in a severe thunderstorm warning until 5:15 p.m.

Parts of Rhode Island and Connecticut are also under severe thunderstorm warnings.

These storms could bring 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-sized hail.

Click here for a full list of severe weather advisories.

A powerful cold front driving south across New England will continue to spark thunderstorms from north to south through the afternoon and evening. The wind will shift from a hot and humid southwest wind to a cooling, drying northwest wind.

The change will be dramatic. Not only will it be taking high temperatures in the 90s Thursday - Boston set a record at 95 degrees - to the 70s Friday, but it will also produce strong thunderstorms with frequent lightning for many. Those storms will cause locally damaging wind for some Thursday afternoon and evening.

A series of thunderstorms also swept across Maine earlier on Thursday, causing power outages.

Central Maine Power reported more than 17,000 homes and businesses were without power Thursday afternoon as storms moved from west to east. There was extensive damage, and James Brown from the National Weather Service said Mainers should keep an "eye on the sky" on Thursday.

Although storms will be gone overnight, a few new showers may still pop up as cooler air overturns the atmosphere. That atmosphere will leave stubborn clouds for most and perhaps a few South Coast showers from time to time Friday.

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Cool air will continue to build into New England Saturday and Sunday, but it’s dry air. So while temperatures will only climb to around 70 Saturday and only the middle and upper 60s Sunday, the weekend will remain dry for outdoor plans.

Rain is expected Monday afternoon, lasting as showers if not more periodic rain Tuesday while warmth attempts a comeback. Eventually, it will succeed in pushing temperatures back near or over 80 by the middle and end of next week in the exclusive Early Warning Weather 10-day forecast.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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