Severe thunderstorms forecast for Monday afternoon, evening

BOSTON - Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected across Massachusetts Monday afternoon so the WBZ-TV Weather Team has issued a Next Weather Alert.

The storms will likely start in the late afternoon and last into the early evening. The main weather threats will be localized flooding, gusty winds, and some hail.

All of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island are included in the severe weather risk zone on Monday. The Storm Prediction Center has issued a slight risk for severe thunderstorms in central and eastern Massachusetts. The yellow highlighted map shows a level 2 threat, on a scale of 5, and it includes Boston.

We expect a drier start to the day on Monday, with little to no issues for the morning commute. The broader range for storm timing is from noon-to-9 p.m. Severe storm chances increase from 2-to-7 p.m.

These storms will have the power to produce heavy downpours, gusty winds, and small hail. Localized flooding is also a concern in areas that are typically vulnerable with persistent rain. That said, each of these weather hazards are on the lower to moderate scale.

Rain chances diminish quickly overnight Monday into Tuesday. Looking ahead, isolated storm chances are in the extended forecast. Temperatures rise into the middle 80s by Wednesday and drop into the 70s to finish out the week.