Thursday under weather alert for heavy rain and strong winds
A rare May nor’easter is forecast to bring soaking rain, gusty winds up to 50 mph (80 km/h), and localized flooding to Boston and surrounding areas just ahead of Memorial Day weekend. The WBZ-TV weather team has issued a NEXT Weather Alert for Thursday, when the most significant impacts are expected.
Wednesday night: first signs of trouble
Starting late Wednesday evening, light showers and drizzle will begin moving into Greater Boston, but major travel disruptions are not expected until Thursday morning.
Thursday: peak of the storm
Between noon and midnight Thursday, the storm will be at its strongest. Heavy rain will spread from south to north, and wind gusts will begin to increase around midday, with speeds over 30 mph (48 km/h) along the coast and above 40 mph (64 km/h) across Cape Cod and the Islands.
By Thursday evening, conditions will deteriorate further, with torrential downpours, large puddles on the roads, localized flooding, and wind gusts ranging from 30 to 50 mph (48 to 80 km/h) across most of eastern Massachusetts.
Friday morning: gradual improvement
After midnight, the heaviest rainfall will shift northward, and by Friday’s morning commute, much of southern New England will be dry or experiencing only lingering drizzle.
Rainfall totals and flooding concerns
Most areas are expected to pick up 1 to 2 inches (25–50 mm) of rainfall, with isolated pockets reaching up to 3 inches (75 mm). While this won’t be enough to trigger major river flooding, smaller streams and creeks may rise close to their banks once again.
Winds strengthening Thursday
Winds will pick up through Thursday morning, peak in the afternoon and evening, and then slowly ease overnight. The strongest gusts, potentially reaching 50 mph (80 km/h), will be focused along the immediate coastline.
Tidal concerns during high astronomical tide
Astronomical tides are nearing their highest levels of the year, peaking on Sunday and Monday. While tides on Thursday are not expected to cause major issues, minor coastal flooding and splash-over are likely during the Thursday evening high tide, which occurs between 7 and 8 p.m.
Memorial Day weekend: slow clearing trend
The nor’easter will linger, and minor residual effects may persist into the early part of the weekend. However, conditions are forecast to gradually improve, with increasing sunshine and warmer temperatures expected by Sunday and Monday, just in time for Memorial Day celebrations.
