Updated

Updated · The Boston Globe · Jul 16

New England Braces for 0.5-Inch Rain and Severe Storms as Weekend Smoke Plume Returns

Updated

Updated · The Boston Globe · Jul 16

New England Braces for 0.5-Inch Rain and Severe Storms as Weekend Smoke Plume Returns

Q: What conditions could quickly turn this weekend's 'low' tornado risk into a significant danger for Massachusetts residents?

The biggest trigger would be if Saturday’s storms arrive earlier, during peak afternoon heating, instead of later in the evening when they are expected to weaken. That timing shift would let thunderstorms tap a hotter, more unstable air mass already building over Massachusetts, with temperatures in the 80s and dew points climbing into the mid- to upper 60s. Combined with strong vertical wind shear, that would make it easier for storms to intensify quickly, organize, and begin rotating — the key ingredient for a brief tornado threat to grow. Forecasters already say western Massachusetts has the best chance of severe storms, with damaging wind gusts the main concern and only a very low tornado risk. But “low risk” does not mean no risk: in New England, isolated tornadoes can still form in setups like this, especially if storms become stronger before sunset and move through a more unstable atmosphere. The practical warning sign for residents is any indication that the storm line is speeding up or becoming more intense during the late afternoon. If that happens, the combination of heat, humidity, and wind shear could turn an isolated tornado chance into a more meaningful hazard, particularly in western and central Massachusetts before storms weaken closer to Boston.

3 articles · Updated · The Boston Globe · Jul 16

Saturday afternoon and evening will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms across New England, with the strongest cells in western Massachusetts capable of damaging wind gusts and a brief tornado.
Mid-60s dew points and a passing front are driving the unsettled weather, while most of the region is expected to pick up about 0.5 inch of rain and some northern spots near 1 inch.
Another edge of a smoke plume will also pass over the region Saturday afternoon, creating hazy skies and, in some places, smoke noticeable at the surface by smell and taste.
Boston-bound storms should weaken Saturday evening, and rain is forecast to clear the coast early Sunday, leaving a mostly dry second half of the weekend with highs largely in the upper 70s to low 80s.