A Couple Of Rounds Of Thunderstorms Are Expected Tonight Across Parts Of Western & Central Mass

As of early this afternoon, a warm front stretches from near the south coast of New England westward into central New York State. This warm front is expected to lift northward across the region as the afternoon progresses. This will lead to increasing humidity levels by the middle and later afternoon hours. In addition to this, a continuing increase in cloudiness is expected during this afternoon. Some showers over southwestern Connecticut should stay south of the area, but there’s the expectation of some scattered showers and thunderstorms moving through very late this afternoon and this evening. Temperatures this afternoon will be between 80 and 85 Degrees. Winds will be Southwest at 5 to 10 mph. Turning To Tonight – I think we will see another round of showers and thunderstorms move through the region between about 10 pm and 2 am tonight. In addition, a second round of showers and thunderstorms may affect mainly areas south of the Mass Pike during the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning. The question then becomes will these thunderstorms be strong or severe or not? While the forcing and energy in the atmosphere looks rather weak tonight, there will be strong amounts of low-level wind shear and some unstable air, especially across Western Mass. My thinking is that the area that has a chance of seeing a couple of strong to severe thunderstorms with the storms for both very late this afternoon and early this evening and between 10 pm and 2 am tonight is across Western Mass eastward into perhaps the far western Worcester Hills. Areas further east, including much of Central Mass will see thunderstorms, yes, but they should stay below strong or severe levels. In any case, I will be monitoring things closely and will have updates as needed. Low temperatures tonight will be between 65 and 70 Degrees. Winds will be Southwest at 10 to 20 mph. Looking Towards Sunday: A warm and quite humid air mass is likely to be in place over the area during Sunday. This will lead to the atmosphere to be unstable and fairly strongly sheared by afternoon. Because of this, there could be some thunderstorms during the afternoon, especially across areas near and south of the Mass Pike. Overall though, Sunday looks like a partly sunny day, but it will be warm and quite humid. I do think that there could be some hit or miss thunderstorms during the afternoon. Most areas though should miss out and just have a nice day on Sunday. Some isolated areas may have a quick passing thunderstorm though. High temperatures will be between 80 and 85 Degrees. Winds will be Southwest at 5 to 10 mph. Monday: An area of high pressure will build over the area giving the entire area a sunny to partly sunny Monday. High temperatures will be between 80 and 85 Degrees.