Good Wednesday morning! Today will bring seasonable temperatures, with highs in the 50s across northern New England and 60s in the south. A cold front moves in tonight, bringing brisk and breezy conditions for tomorrow, along with a northwest wind at 10 to 20 mph. Expect scattered showers and isolated downpours later today, mainly in central and eastern Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Isolated thunder can’t be ruled out and it’s cold enough aloft that some small hail or graupel is possible. Showers will move west to east during the late evening and first part of the overnight ushering in cooler air. Overnight, lows will drop into the 40s, with 30s in far western and northern areas with a chance of frost. For the latest on Hurricane Milton and our local forecast through the holiday weekend, stay tuned for our updated daily Insights video.
The most significant weather event for today is approaching Hurricane Milton, which is set to make landfall along Florida’s west-central coast around midnight. Life-threatening conditions will impact Florida, including a devastating storm surge (peaking between 10-15 feet around Tampa Bay), hurricane-force winds, and flash flooding due to expected rainfall totals of 6-12 inches, with localized areas reaching 15 inches. Tornadoes and waterspouts may develop within the outer rainbands.
Outside of Florida, the rest of the U.S. experiences more tranquil but contrasting weather conditions. Unseasonably hot temperatures continue over the western and central states. Highs in the Southwest will exceed 95-110°F, with some areas potentially breaking daily records. Meanwhile, the eastern U.S. enjoys cooler, autumn-like conditions with highs ranging in the 60s and 70s. The Northeast remains under the influence of a broad upper trough, leading to breezy and chilly conditions, especially in New England. Lake-effect rain showers will persist near the Great Lakes. The Pacific Northwest will see increasing rain chances as a weak front approaches, while most other regions stay dry.
The weather story across New England and Upstate New York remains cool and somewhat unsettled as an upper-level low lingers over southern Quebec, extending its influence southward into the region. Today begins with some sunshine, but a series of weak disturbances will bring scattered showers, particularly across New York and Vermont. These showers will become more widespread during the afternoon due to steep lapse rates and colder air aloft, which may even lead to isolated thunderstorms or graupel in northern sections. While much of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island will stay predominantly dry, areas further north will see scattered rain, and higher elevations could witness some wet snowflakes mixing in overnight, especially in the Adirondacks and Green Mountains.
Temperatures will be cool, especially for those planning outdoor activities, with highs only reaching the upper 50s to low 60s across most of the region. Winds from the west and northwest will increase later in the day, making conditions feel cooler, particularly along the coast and in higher terrain. For those in northern Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, expect high temperatures to struggle to reach the mid-50s, with overnight lows dropping into the mid-30s, raising frost concerns in the sheltered valleys.
Travelers should be prepared for potential localized poor visibility in rain showers, while marine interests will contend with gusty northwest winds late Wednesday into Thursday. These winds may stir rough seas, particularly along the Maine coast, with small craft advisories likely. Aviation impacts will be minimal overall, with VFR conditions prevailing but some possible IFR conditions in heavier showers across northern New York and Vermont.
The coolest day of the week will be Thursday, when temperatures dip further, making it feel much more like late fall. Wind gusts in excess of 25 mph will also impact outdoor plans, while frost may become an issue in the early morning hours. By the weekend, a brief warm-up is expected, but the unsettled weather pattern persists with another round of rain likely by Sunday.
