In order to get a tropical system or its remnant into New England, you really need a well-established southerly wind flow through a deep layer of the atmosphere. New England should see the opposite for the next several days, which means we’ll content with a couple of northern jet stream disturbances, but nothing directly from a developing Tropical Storm Helene for quite some time, if at all. Plus…our 14-day now includes the full first weekend of the Topsfield Fair! Full details in the video, overview in this post:
As we move through the next few days, high pressure to the northeast is keeping New England mostly dry. While showers are lurking as close as New York State, the dry air and northeast wind should hold them off. Tuesday and Wednesday will bring breaks of sunshine between clouds, but don’t be surprised by a stray sprinkle here and there.
Wednesday evening, things change as a disturbance moves in from the west. Northern and Western New England will see showers Wednesday, but the rest of us may only get an isolated shower.
Thursday is the big day for rain, with widespread showers expected across much of New England. These showers will be driven by moisture and energy from the developing Tropical Storm Helene, which could follow a similar path to Francine from a few weeks ago. However, if Helene stalls out, we could see improving conditions by the weekend, with most of the rain staying south.
For our coastal communities, expect onshore winds to continue through Tuesday and Wednesday, keeping seas churned up. Waves will be around 4-7 feet, especially near shore and just offshore. By Thursday, winds shift more southerly, but seas will remain elevated at 2-5 feet near the coast and 6-7 feet farther out. Boaters and those near the water should take caution with rip currents and rough conditions through midweek.
Tuesday’s high temperatures will be 65-70°F, cooler than usual for early fall. The Champlain Valley of Vermont will likely see the mildest conditions, with more sunshine breaking through. Overnight, temperatures will dip into the 40s and 50s, with Wednesday following a similar pattern of clouds, cooler highs, and some isolated rain.
As the showers spread across New England on Thursday, temperatures will be held in the 60s due to the increased cloud cover and rain.
After Thursday’s showers, we’ll start to see improvement on Friday as drier air moves in and the skies begin to clear. The weekend is shaping up nicely with fall-like conditions and temperatures between 65-70°F—a perfect backdrop for any outdoor plans. While a passing shower can’t be ruled out, it looks like a generally pleasant weekend ahead.
Next weekend will bring more typical fall weather, with highs in the mid-60s to low 70s and only the chance of an occasional shower. If you’re heading to the Topsfield Fair, the opening day forecast for next Friday looks promising, with temperatures around 70°F and any lingering showers clearing out by the morning.
We’ll keep you updated on any changes in the forecast as we get closer, but for now, things are looking good for the fair’s start!
Exciting news! You asked for it, and now you can grab your own 1DegreeOutside swag to show your support. Head to swag.1DegreeOutside.com to check out the merch! Also, don’t forget to grab the Noyes’ 1DegreeOutside Weather app for your personalized 14-day forecast, available on the App Store and Google Play. You’ll find all the latest updates, including fall foliage reports, on our homepage at 1DegreeOutside.com.
