MA Weather: Thunderstorms, Torrential Rain

Thursday — particularly in the late evening — is expected to be the wettest day of an off-and-on stretch of gray and rain this week. The entire state east of the Berkshires is under a hazardous weather outlook for a "very small risk of localized flash flooding," the National Weather Service said.

The temperatures could crawl into the 70s and there will be scattered showers, localized torrential rainfall and a few thunderstorms, NWS said Thursday morning. The worst of it is expected to come Thursday night into early Friday; forecasters are calling for 1-2 inches of rain by the end of it.

Some good news: It won't be a constant rain, so if you time it right you can get out for a walk. And this weekend represents a big turnaround.

Saturday will be dry and gusty, with temperatures in the mid-70s. The prize day is Sunday, with temperatures in the mid-80s and just a couple clouds. The warm weather will continue through the early part of next week.

Boston-area forecast via NWS Boston:

Today - Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 10am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Areas of fog after 11am. High near 69. Southeast wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight - Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 3am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Areas of fog before 2am, then areas of fog after 5am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 8 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday - Showers, mainly before 2pm. Patchy fog between 9am and noon. High near 71. Northwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday night - A slight chance of showers before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind 11 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday night - Mostly clear, with a low around 62. West wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Sunday - Sunny, with a high near 83. West wind around 9 mph.

Sunday night - Mostly clear, with a low around 62. West wind 6 to 8 mph.

Monday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. West wind around 6 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Monday night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind 5 to 8 mph.

Tuesday - A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tuesday night - A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 6 to 8 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday - A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%."