Widespread shower activity is now occurring across all of Western and Central Mass and it is expected that heavy rain is expected to unfold across the entire region with increasing rain rates over the next few hours.
In addition to this, it still looks likely that a line of heavy rain with embedded thunderstorms will move from west to east across the entire area late tonight into the first part of Friday morning. This line will first move across Western Mass between about midnight tonight and 5 am Friday morning and then across Central Mass between about 4 am and 9 am Friday morning.
All rain is expected to come to an end across Western Mass by about 9 am Friday morning and then across Central Mass by about 11 am Friday morning.
Total rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches with local amounts of up to 4 inches are expected tonight into Friday morning across the entire area.
In addition to the heavy rainfall, South winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts of up to 45 mph are expected throughout tonight. An isolated wind gust of up to 50 to 60 mph is possible when that line of heavy rain and thunderstorms moves through late tonight into Friday morning.
These gusty southerly winds will continue to strip some of the leaves from the trees throughout tonight.
The combination of heavy rain and fallen leaves on roads will lead to slippery road conditions throughout Thursday night and Friday morning.
Also, the heavy rainfall tonight and Friday morning will lead to street and highway flooding, especially in areas where fallen leaves are clogging storm drains.