Thunderstorms, Some Strong To Severe, Are Expected Between 6 pm and 10 pm This Evening Across Western & Central Mass (Posted at 11 am Saturday Morning 7/18/2026)

As expected, smoky skies have returned to Western and Central Mass and is causing hazy conditions across the area. This smoke is reducing visibilities in many areas & has led to the smell of smoke in some areas.

It is expected that these smoky, hazy conditions will continue through all of this afternoon and into this evening. Expect hazy, smoky conditions that will reduce visibilities & lead to a smoky smell in the air. This means that those of you with respiratory conditions, such as asthma or emphysema probably should limit time outdoors the rest of today. If that wasn't enough, the rain that occurs with the showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and this evening is likely to pull down some soot and ash leading to the possibility of smudgy black marks on outdoor surfaces.

In addition to this, shower activity is now pushing into far Western Mass & these showers are likely to continue overspreading the entire area over the next hour or two. Once these showers begin, they will likely continue on and off throughout this afternoon & locally heavy downpours and rumbles of thunder are possible. I do not think that this first round of showers & isolated thunderstorms will be strong or severe.

A second, much more important round of thunderstorms are expected to affect all of Western and Central Mass this evening between about 6 pm and 10 pm. These thunderstorms are expected to accompany a southeastern moving cold front that'll push through the region tonight.

It is anticipated that a line of thunderstorms, some of them strong to severe, will move from northwest to southeast across all of Western and Central Mass beginning about 6-7 pm and continuing until about 10 pm. Any strong to severe thunderstorms between 6 pm and 10 pm this evening will be capable of producing 45-65 mph wind gusts, torrential downpours and frequent lightning.

I will be keeping very close tabs on the thunderstorm activity, especially as we get into this evening & will be posting updates as needed. So, check back for updates later today.

Showers & Thunderstorms Saturday Afternoon & Saturday Evening Will Give Way To A Nice Day On Sunday Across Western & Central Mass

First off, Sunday looks to be the better weather day this weekend over Saturday. All of the shower and thunderstorm activity that is expected Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening will be long gone by Sunday morning. This will leave us with a sunny day Sunday with warm temperatures and low humidity levels.

THIS AFTERNOON will be partly sunny with temperatures in the mid 70s. Dew point temperatures will be in the upper 40s to low 50s. Winds will be West to Northwest at around 10 mph.

TONIGHT looks clear throughout the night. That being said, it appears that a new round of wildfire smoke will push into the area by the predawn hours of Saturday morning. This means that a hazy look to the sky is likely by sunrise. Low temperatures will be between 55 and 60 Degrees. Winds will be West at 5 to 10 mph.

SATURDAY will start out partly sunny during the morning. In addition, smoky skies are likely & this will give the sky a milky white appearance with even some hazy skies expected at times. How much smoke reaches the ground remains to be seen, but those of you with respiratory issues should be advised that unhealthy conditions are possible Saturday morning.

During Saturday afternoon, it appears that a weather disturbance will cross the region. This will bring with it a round of showers and thunderstorms to the entire area throughout the afternoon. Some of these thunderstorms might be on the strong side and be capable of producing gusty winds, heavy downpours and lightning.

One thing that might really temper the intensity of the thunderstorms is any smoke that'll be present in the atmosphere. So, smoky skies can be expected at times throughout Saturday afternoon with some of this smoke reaching the ground during the early afternoon hours. If this smoke is thick, then it could put a cap on thunderstorm development, but at the same time this smoke would create unhealthy conditions for those with respiratory issues.

High temperatures Saturday will be between 75 and 80 Degrees. Dew point temperatures will be in the upper 50s to low 60s. Winds will be Southwest at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

SATURDAY NIGHT - A cold front is expected to push through the area during Saturday evening bringing with it a line of showers and thunderstorms. This line of showers and thunderstorms looks to push through our area between about 8 pm and midnight. Some of these thunderstorms might be on the strong to severe side & be capable of producing very gusty winds, torrential downpours and frequent lightning.

The progress and intensity of the thunderstorms Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening will be watched closely & many more updates will be posted as needed.

Once the showers and thunderstorms move out of the area by about midnight Saturday night, skies are likely to become partly cloudy towards morning.

Low temperatures will be between 60 and 65 Degrees. Winds will be Southwest at 10 to 20 mph before midnight and West at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph after midnight.

SUNDAY will be sunny to partly sunny with high temperatures near 80 Degrees. Winds will be Northwest at 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Very Smoky Skies This Afternoon & Tonight Will Clear Out For Friday Across Western & Central Mass

For This Afternoon & Tonight: The big story for this afternoon and tonight will be another round of very smoky skies that are expected across the entire area. These smoky skies are being caused by ongoing wildfires burning in far western Ontario and northern Minnesota. The smoke from these wildfires are being transported into our area on west and northwesterly upper-level winds.

It is expected that smoky, hazy skies will move back into all of Western and Central Mass by early this afternoon & remain in place through tonight. The worst of the smoky skies are expected between about 3 pm this afternoon and midnight tonight. It’s actually possible that the smoky skies and the smell of smoke in the air could be worse than yesterday & may actually reduce visibilities at times.

Those of you that have respiratory illnesses such as asthma or emphysema are urged to stay indoors this afternoon and tonight. If you do have to go outdoors, please severely limit that time you spend outdoors. It should be noted that even those of you that do not have respiratory problems may be negatively affected by the smoke this afternoon and tonight. This means that pretty much anyone should significantly limit your time outdoors this afternoon and tonight.

Temperatures this afternoon will start out in the low to mid 80s early this afternoon and will probably fall into the 70s due to the very smoky skies. Dew point temperatures this afternoon will fall through the 50s. Winds will be West at 15 to 20 mph with gusts to 30-35 mph.

Low temperatures tonight will be between 55 and 60 Degrees. Winds will be Northwest at around 10 mph.

Friday: A much nicer day is expected on Friday as all of that smoke will be pushed to our south.

This means that skies will be sunny to partly sunny with high temperatures around 80 Degrees. Dew point temperatures will be in the mid 40s. Winds will be West to Northwest at 10 to 15 mph.

This Weekend: While the weekend doesn’t look like a washout, there is the expectation to be on and off showers and thunderstorms from Saturday afternoon through Saturday night and into Sunday morning.

Saturday is expected to start out partly sunny in the morning. That being said, there is the possibility that a new round of smoky skies could impact the area. Cloudy skies are then expected for Saturday afternoon and there is likely to be some scattered showers and thunderstorms around. It’s possible that some of the thunderstorms might be on the strong side.

In addition to this, we may be looking at a side of smoke to go along with the afternoon shower and thunderstorm activity.

High temperatures will be between 75 and 80 Degrees. Dew point temperatures will be in the upper 50s to low 60s. Winds will be Southwest at 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph.

Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms are expected throughout Saturday night as a frontal system pushes through the region. Some of the thunderstorms may be on the strong side. Low temperatures will be near 60 Degrees.

Turning to Sunday, it appears that any leftover scattered showers will end during the early morning hours. This will be followed by skies to become partly sunny by afternoon. High temperatures will be near 80 Degrees.

Monday Through Wednesday: Monday looks sunny with high temperatures near 80 Degrees.

Tuesday is expected to be cloudy with showers and scattered thunderstorms, especially during the afternoon. High temperatures will be near 80 Degrees.

Wednesday looks sunny with high temperatures between 75 and 80 Degrees.

There is one caveat to the forecast for Monday and Wednesday. It’s possible that the west and northwest upper level winds both days could produce more smoky skies across out area as more smoke is pushed into our area from the wildfires over western Ontario and northern Minnesota. Something to keep an eye on, just in case.