Rain to sweep through Mass. on Thursday with chance for thunderstorms

Massachusetts is set to experience widespread showers on Thursday, with significant rainfall of up to 3 inches possible in parts of the Bay State.

The showers will increase in coverage through the morning, with another round of locally heavy rain coming in the afternoon. More showers are expected Thursday evening, just ahead of a cold front. The rain is likely to diminish overnight, setting up a largely dry Friday.

"Given anomalous [precipitable water], deep warm cloud depths for efficient warm rain processes and convective potential, expect widespread rainfall of 1-2 inches, with localized amounts exceeding 3 inches, which could produce areas of urban and poor drainage street flooding," National Weather Service forecasters wrote.

Totals of under an inch are possible on Cape Cod and the Islands.

The chances of severe weather on Thursday are less certain. The greatest chance of severe weather is in the southwestern part of the state, where "the main risk would be damaging wind and possibly a tornado," forecasters wrote.

Temperatures will warm up during the day Thursday, reaching between 70 and 75 in most parts of the state. Thanks to the moisture in the air, it will feel rather humid for much of the day.

The bulk of the rainfall will have moved offshore by early Friday, but showers could linger across Southeastern New England as a weak front moves through. Beyond that, conditions should improve, with clouds giving way to increasing sunshine and highs in the upper 70s or low 80s.

"It will be a summer feel to the air mass," forecasters wrote.

The warm weather will continue into the weekend, with another chance for rain coming Saturday night into Sunday. If showers do develop, temperatures could fall into the 60s. If not, temperatures should stick above 70.

Monday will bring temperatures north of 80, but a cold front pushing southward will bring in a fall airmass by Wednesday, with temperatures dipping well below normal.

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