Though the eyes of our nation have been on Harvey, preparing for its third landfall and continuing to dump even more rainfall on already record-breaking floods, here in New England our eyes are turned to the East Coast, where a blossom of rain and thunder continues to slowly converge around Tropical Depression #10.
Whether the Tropical Depression ever organizes enough to be named Tropical Storm Irma is of little consequence to New England – the impact for us will be the same, regardless: a period of windswept rain and showers.
After a dry Tuesday of thickening clouds, showers will arrive from the south, impacting the South Coast first around 6-9 p.m., then expanding northward during the overnight to around the Merrimack Valley, dropping generally a quarter-to-a-half-inch of rain over Southern New England, less in the Merrimack Valley, and closer to half an inch to an inch from Chatham to Nantucket.
Although most of us won’t see much wind, a northeast wind will increase in the squeeze between high pressure departing to our east, and Tropical Depression #10 – an area of low pressure – passing to our south. The result will be a stiff wind late Tuesday night to Wednesday morning on the Outer Cape and Islands, with a couple of gusts to 40 or 45 mph a possibility, particularly on Nantucket.
This will be the equivalent of a weak to moderate nor’easter, and should require little more than an additional fender on the boat. Coastal flooding is unlikely with a rather low tide.
Any showers will quickly depart Wednesday, leaving increasing sunshine from late morning onward, setting the stage for some great, albeit cool, weather into the start of the holiday weekend, save for some scattered Thursday afternoon showers. By Sunday, deeper warmth will begin a move to New England, and this should bring some clouds and a chance for some showers, then a warm Labor Day is probable with a chance of scattered afternoon thunder.
