Significant Rain Coming As MA Mired In Relentless Drought

MASSACHUSETTS — Weather watchers are hopeful some long-awaited rain will put a dent in the widening drought that has Massachusetts in its stubborn grasp.

Rain Tuesday night and Wednesday morning will be a welcome sight for a state desperate for precipitation. Up to 2.5 inches is expected to fall in the central part of the state, with lower, but still helpful, amounts in eastern Massachusetts. Brief bouts of thunder could accompany heavy rain.

"Widespread rain tonight & Wed morning with heavy downpours & a rumble or two of thunder possible," the National Weather Service said Tuesday on Twitter.

Massachusetts will take whatever it can get right now. More than 92 percent of the state is seeing at least moderate drought conditions, with 48 percent seeing severe and 10 percent extreme drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Nearly 6.5 million residents are in some sort of drought.

The relatively few rain events that have occurred in the past few months have not been enough to turn the tide against the drought. Some brief rain in Boston Monday ended the city's dry streak at 17 days. The city is almost 10 inches shy of its yearly average for rain.

There will also be a wind advisory in effect for the eastern part of the state from late Tuesday night into Wednesday night. Forecasters are warning of gusts up to 45 miles per hour.

Boston-area forecast via NWS

Today — Partly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight — A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely after midnight. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 8 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday — Showers, mainly before 2pm. Patchy fog before 9am. High near 74. Southwest wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Wednesday Night — Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 54. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Thursday — Sunny, with a high near 72. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Friday — Rain likely, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday Night — A chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday — Sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind around 6 mph.

Saturday Night — Mostly clear, with a low around 44. Light northwest wind.

Sunday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Light and variable wind.

Sunday Night — A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46. Light northeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday — A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 61. East wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.