'Drought-Denting' Rains Due Tuesday: Massachusetts Weather Outlook

New England will see what forecasters are calling "drought-denting" rain this week.

This low-pressure system is coming in fast from the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday. Rain should arrive early on, intensifying throughout the afternoon and evening in spots, according to NECN meteorologist Aaron Perry. The greatest totals should be in Central and Western Mass., but the whole state will get some solid precipitation (check the anticipated totals in photo above.)

The drought, which has forced dozens of Massachusetts communities to impose mandatory and voluntary water restrictions, has persisted for months.

Here's a radar timeline of when rain is expected, courtesy of the National Weather Service.

It should be cold, but not enough as to produce sleet or snow south of New Hampshire. There are expected to be instances of freezing rain, though nothing too bad.