MA Weather: Flash Flood Watch Ahead Of Downpours, Storms

A flash flood watch has been called for nearly all of Massachusetts as potentially heavy downfalls and thunderstorms are expected to wash over the region. The watch will be in effect through Sunday morning.

The rain is expected to start some time before noon Saturday and last in an on-and-off pattern into Monday. Primarily rain is expected Saturday - at rates of 2-3 inches per hour - with scattered thunderstorms set for Sunday, according to the Weather Channel. Some storms may start tonight, other forecasts say.

"Periods of showers along with embedded thunderstorms will impact the region today and tonight with the potential for localized rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour at rimes," the National Weather Service wrote. "The potential exists for these heavy showers to move over the same locations."

While the warning expires early Sunday, the rain and storms are going to stick around through the week. There is at least a 40 percent chance of precipitation in Boston in all but one day next week, with thunderstorms in the forecast Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Here is the forecast through next week, courtesy of the NWS:

Saturday - Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 71. East wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday night - Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 10 pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Patchy fog. Low around 64. Light and variable wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Sunday - A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Patchy fog before noon. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 75. North wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday night - A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 64. Light northeast wind. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday - A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Patchy fog before 4pm, then patchy fog after 5pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 3 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday night - A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 4am. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday - Showers likely, mainly between 1pm and 3pm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday night - A chance of showers before 10pm. Patchy fog after 9pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Wednesday - A chance of showers before 5pm. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday night - Patchy fog after 3am. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Thursday - Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 85.

Thursday night - A chance of showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday - A chance of showers. Patchy fog. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

NWS Boston image