Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
000
FXUS61 KBOX 220551
AFDBOX
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
151 AM EDT Sat Aug 22 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
A Rip Current Statement has been issued for Plymouth and
Barnstable Counties for Saturday.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
- Below normal temperatures and overcast conditions continue
through the weekend. Drizzle/misty weather through Saturday
then a period of heavier rain possible overnight into Sunday.
- Drier and warmer next week.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1...Below normal temperatures and overcast
conditions continue through the weekend. Drizzle/misty weather
through Saturday then a period of heavier rain possible
overnight into Sunday.
The low pressure system that's brought the misty and overcast
weather today has dipped a little further south of Long Island
than previously expected. The latest guidance suite is
projecting the low slowly moves east through today then swings
northeast around Nantucket tonight into Saturday. The interior
is more likely to remain dry with a few pockets of mist through
the rest of today, but eastern and Southeast MA and RI should
see the mist linger with periodic light showers into Saturday.
Most of southern New England should see a dry Saturday morning,
except the Cape/Islands could see a few lingering showers. As
the low weakens and wraps around the Cape Saturday, another
round of heavier showers is expected to push into southern New
England later Saturday evening into the overnight period. This
round has the potential to develop a few heavier, convective
bands of rain given the higher PWATs near 2.0" and favorable
IVT. Guidance is split a few different ways on QPF totals:
Global ensembles show generally a 30 to 40 percent chance of
1.0" in 24 hours over the Cape/Islands by sunrise Sunday, except
the GFS ensemble which indicates much less rainfall and also
located further offshore. CAM and higher resolution guidance has
the same bullseye on the Cape, but also identifies and secondary
precip max approaching 1.0" in 24 hours across interior CT and
western MA. Given how the guidance is struggling to resolve the
exact track of the low due to the unexpected southern drop
today, confidence is on the lower end specifically regarding
rainfall across the interior, as a little wobbling east or west
in the northeastward progression of the low will have a larger
impact on precip totals.
More of the same on Sunday as a cold front slowly approaches,
sending moisture from the south out ahead of it. NE/E flow
early becomes southerly advecting 70+ dewpoints into the region
with PWATs 2+ inches. This while the surface low lifts north and
east with the best convergence/forcing in the early morning
with a lull possible in the late morning/afternoon then
potential for some showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.
Given those dewpoints, CAPE values jump to 500-1000 J/kg and
depending on how quickly the cold front arrives it could
overcome marginal lapse rates to produce a strong to severe
storm, especially in western SNE, given 0-6 km bulk shear values
of 50+ kts.
Otherwise, temperatures through the first half of the weekend
will remain below seasonable under prolonged
onshore/northeasterly flow... highs likely remain in the upper
60s to low 70s through Saturday.
KEY MESSAGE 2...Drier and warmer next week.
By Monday the cold front has pushed through and ushers in a
much drier and warmer start to the week. Dewpoints fall from
near 65-70F Sun to 45-50F Mon. Rising heights and building
surface high pressure will help to keep the forecast drier with
perhaps some diurnal showers Tue under a weak shortwave.
Otherwise, generally zonal flow takes hold through at least
Thursday with no significant disturbances on the horizon, and no
intrusions of anomalous heat or cold. Temperatures remain
comfortable ranging from the mid 70s to low 80s.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...
Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.
06z TAF Update:
Through Saturday...Moderate confidence.
MVFR ceilings should continue to move in over the region heading
into the morning hours. IFR ceilings remain a possibility
towards SE MA/Cape and Islands. Periods of mist and drizzle
remain most likely over these same areas this morning, spreading
over much of eastern MA and to ORH during the day. Winds
generally NE to N at 5-10 kt.
Saturday Night...Moderate confidence.
Widespread MVFR/IFR should overspread the region heading into
tonight as a round of steadier light to moderate rain approaches
mainly after 06z Sunday. Exact timing may still change, and some
areas, especially in eastern parts of the region, could see
conditions deteriorate sooner than the rest of southern New
England. Winds remain NE to N at 5-10 kt.
Sunday...Moderate confidence.
MVFR-IFR ceilings with periods of showers during the day. TSRA
possible towards western MA and CT in the afternoon hours. Winds
shift more S to SW ahead of an approaching cold front.
KBOS Terminal...Moderate confidence in TAF. Conditions should
deteriorate to MVFR, then remain there through the day. Periods
of mist and drizzle possible throughout the day as well. The
next round of showers should move in around 06z Sun, though
uncertainty with exact timing remains.
KBDL Terminal...High confidence in TAF.
Outlook /Sunday through Wednesday/...
Sunday: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Chance SHRA,
slight chance TSRA.
Sunday Night: VFR.
Monday: VFR. Breezy.
Monday Night: VFR.
Tuesday through Wednesday: VFR. Breezy.
&&
.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...
Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.
Through Saturday Night...High confidence.
Gusty NE winds near 25kts and waves near 5 ft across the
southern waters gradually diminish through this evening and into
tonight as the low weakens and moves further offshore.
Otherwise, winds generally 18-20 kts and seas 3-4 ft through
most of Saturday become more variable as the low breaks down
Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Despite the lower wave heights, the prolonged northeasterly
flow will cause higher swells and longer swell periods Saturday
which has prompted a Rip Current Statement for Plymouth and
Barnstable Counties. Eastern, ocean-facing beaches will be
primarily affected, especially across the northern portion of
Cape Cod; however, bay- facing beaches may also experience rip
currents.
Outlook /Sunday through Wednesday/...
Sunday: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas locally approaching 5 ft.
Chance of rain showers, slight chance of thunderstorms.
Sunday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Local rough seas. Chance
of rain showers, slight chance of thunderstorms.
Monday through Monday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Seas up to
5 ft.
Tuesday through Wednesday: Winds less than 25 kt.
&&
.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...None.
MA...High Risk for Rip Currents from 6 AM EDT this morning through this
afternoon for MAZ019-022.
RI...None.
MARINE...None.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...BW/McMinn
AVIATION...Hrencecin
MARINE...McMinn
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