MA Weather: Heavy Rainstorm Tonight Followed By Freezing Weekend

Heavy rain Friday night will avoid becoming the first snow of the year, but only by a matter of hours. An evening downpour, which has prompted a flood watch for most of Massachusetts, will usher in an unseasonably cold stretch that will drop temperatures into the 20s and 30s, weather officials said.

Tonight's rain will arrive from the west between 4-8 p.m. The temperatures will be in the upper 40s and low 50s, far from warm, but there won't be any snow just yet. The rain should end by daybreak Saturday.

About two inches of rain is expected across most of the state. There is an increased flood risk due o the potential of all those leaves on the ground getting caught up in drain sewers.

The rain will be accompanied by maximum wind gusts of between 40-50 miles per hour. The stiffest winds will be on the Cape and Islands, which are under a wind advisory from 10 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Saturday.

Another storm system on tap for early next week should be a ton more rain - and we'll keep our eye out for what could potentially be the first snow. Subscribe to your local Patch for the latest.

Boston-area forecast via NWS

Today - A chance of rain, mainly after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 48. East wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight - Rain, mainly before 5am. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 44. East wind 6 to 11 mph becoming east 12 to 17 mph. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Saturday - Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a temperature rising to near 46 by 9am, then falling to around 38 during the remainder of the day. West wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.

Saturday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 30. West wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph.

Veterans Day - Sunny, with a high near 42. West wind 7 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph.

Sunday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 26.

Monday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 45.

Monday night - A chance of rain and snow between 10pm and 1am, then rain. Low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday - Rain. High near 52. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday night - Rain likely, mainly before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday - Partly sunny, with a high near 40.

Wednesday night - Mostly clear, with a low around 24.

Thursday - Sunny, with a high near 39.

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