Overall decent Labor weekend upcoming for New England

High pressure that was overhead today will drift to the north and east. This will provide a very similar day to Thursday with low humidity, cooler temperatures (though many areas will likely get a notch warmer than Thursday) and mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies. Heading into the weekend, a frontal system will approach and pass through New England Saturday into Sunday morning.

This system has trended toward a later arrival and departure time versus yesterday as high pressure lingers to New England's east. The system looks to slowly move toward New England on Saturday before clearing the region by Sunday afternoon. This has led to drier weather lasting later into Saturday and wetter weather lasting later into Sunday. With that said, Neither Saturday nor Sunday will be a washout for anyone in New England.

Photo byNew England Storm Center

These showers will likely move into western New England by Saturday afternoon before pushing eastward through Saturday evening and into the overnight hours. Much of New England outside of Vermont, western Massachusetts and the White Mountains will see a mainly dry Saturday during the daylight hours with the line not pushing east until Saturday night. The aforementioned areas will stand the best chance at seeing showers break out in the afternoon.

Euro showing potential weather overnight Saturday night to Sunday morning:

Photo byECMWF/Pivotal Weather

The overall later timing means there is now a better chance of scattered showers and a couple thunderstorms lingering into the daylight hours on Sunday. A gradual reduction of showers is expected as Sunday wears on, with the afternoon still looking to feature less activity than the morning. Still, some showers and storms may pop up in the afternoon with forcing from the front around.

Euro showing potential weather Sunday early afternoon:

Photo byECMWF/Pivotal Weather

A secondary, weaker cold front will likely cross New England later Sunday into Monday morning. This may aid in producing isolated showers Sunday evening and overnight, primarily for western New England and the higher terrain. Much cooler and less humid air will follow behind this front.

Photo byNew England Storm Center

As far as total rainfall goes from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon, there are some mixed signals on just how much rain will fall. The atmosphere will be very moisture-rich, with PWAT values (a measure of moisture in the atmosphere that could become precipitation) will likely push up and over 2 inches. This value indicates the potential for heavy rainfall. However, residual ridging may linger aloft, which would make it more difficult for precipitation to become widespread and for torrential downpours to develop.

With that said, with this much moisture in the atmosphere, downpours will be possible, especially across northern New England. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible, which would increase rainfall totals where they develop. When all is said and done, a half inch to an inch is likely across much of northern New England with lesser totals as you head south and east. There will likely be localized higher amounts where storms and/or downpours are able to set up. This will not be an impactful rainfall event for most.

Photo byNew England Storm Center

Both temperatures and humidity will be on the rise through the weekend for New England as a southerly flow ahead of the front transports moist air from the south. Highs may still get held to the 70s on Saturday with more clouds and showers around, but Sunday will have a chance to eclipse 80° everywhere with some afternoon sunshine.

Humidity will become elevated on Saturday and will remain elevated until the secondary cold front sweeps through later Sunday into Monday morning. Dew points will be well into the 60s, possibly eclipsing the 70° mark will be around from Saturday afternoon through Sunday afternoon. Humidity will nose dive after the weekend.

Photo byNew England Storm Center

An expansive area of high pressure will set up for New England for at least the first half of next week, keeping the very calm weather around. This high will also allow for the fall-like air mass to stick around, with temperatures remaining below average through midweek. Monday is currently looking to be the coolest day with a gradual warming trend thereafter. Overnight lows will run from the low to mid 40s north to low 50s south during this time.

Photo byNew England Storm Center