New Engalnd forecast: Scattered showers enter the Boston area

Boston and New England start dry on Thursday with mostly sunny skies to begin. Then skies will slowly turn to nearly overcast during the afternoon. There may also be a few patches of fog.

But pack the umbrella, because scattered showers will be lurking during the afternoon and through the commute home. Any plans after work may need to be watched because there might be a pocket or two of steady rain, mainly south and southwest of Boston. There may be some late cancellations of soccer practice or other outdoor events.

In terms of precipitation, we’re actually in position to pick up some beneficial rainfall across Southeastern Mass., with up to 2 inches locally for a few areas. This should help with the severe drought from Plymouth to Fall River, and east across the Cape and Islands.

Now let’s talk high temperatures. We should return to the 80s across Greater Boston and New England. With increasing clouds throughout the day, we may end up a degree or two cooler than what’s depicted on the map below, but we wont’ notice the difference.

The air will be pretty humid, with dew points ranging from the mid-60s to the low 70s across Southern New England. This may set up a couple of pockets of steady to heavy rain, but we should remain below any flooding thresholds.

Of course, the immediate coast will stay a bit cooler, ranging between 75 and 80 degrees for the most part along the north and south shores, and the Cape.

Winds won’t really be an issue, but we could see some localized wind gusts reach 20 to 30 mph across Southeastern Mass. Thursday night into the overnight hours.

Dave has us set up with the weekend forecast, but we can expect temperatures to hold to the mid- and upper 70s across Boston and most of New England. After a mostly dry Saturday, our next storm system pushes into the region later Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning, sparking widespread showers.

Greater Boston: Mostly sunny start, then turning overcast. Scattered showers during the afternoon and evening. Highs in the low to mid-80s, upper 70s along the immediate North and South Shores.

Central/Western Mass.: Turning overcast after sunny start. Scattered showers push in late morning or early afternoon. Highs to the mid-70s across the Berkshires, low 80s east.

Southeastern Mass.: Mostly sunny to begin, then turning cloudy. Morning patchy fog. Highs to the upper 70s and low 80s as showers arrive late afternoon.

Cape Cod and the Islands: Partly cloudy with morning patchy fog. Highs to the mid- and upper 70s as showers arrive during the late afternoon or early evening.

Rhode Island: Mostly sunny start, then turn cloudy with highs in the upper 70s and low 80s. Scattered showers push in during the afternoon and last through the evening.

New Hampshire: Increasing clouds with scattered light showers during the afternoon and evening. Highs to the upper 70s and low 80s.

Vermont/Maine: Partly to mostly cloudy. Highs to the upper 70s in Vermont, a few low 80s across Coastal Maine. Spotty showers in the afternoon for Vermont, later in the evening in Maine.

Connecticut: Scattered showers break out during the early afternoon and last into the evening. Highs to the upper 70s to mid-80s.

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Ken Mahan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Instagram @kenmahantheweatherman.