Temperatures to Plummet as Fall Hits Massachusetts

Baby, it'll be cold outside. Oh, and dry, even still.

The first real blast of chilly weather is expected to wash over Massachusetts tonight, dropping temperatures as low as 40 degrees in parts of the state.

The Greater Boston area and Cape and Islands are expected to sit over 50 degrees, according to forecasters, but parts of the the North Shore and Southeastern Mass. look like they'll drop into the 40s. Central Mass. will dip into the mid 40s, and Western Mass. could come very close to the 30s.

Remember, it hit 90 degrees in Boston on Wednesday.

Looking for fun fall activities? Here's a list of all the apple picking orchards open for business in Massachusetts. And don't miss out on the peak time to see fall foliage.

Meanwhile, the state's extreme drought designation has expanded to more than half the state — 52 percent, in fact. The extreme drought covered 23 percent of the state last week, when Gov. Charlie Baker elevated the state's response by announcing a Drought Emergency Fund.

The extreme drought covers all of the North Shore, Greater Boston area, the South Shore, most of Southeastern Mass. and much of Central Mass.

The majority of the rest of the state is in a severe drought, while every part of it has at least an "abnormally dry" designation.

Boston and Worcester each have year-to-date rainfall deficits of more than 9 inches.

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