Weekly Significant Weather Outlook
Significantly hazardous weather appears unlikely across southern New England this week. The large-scale pattern features a broad upper trough centered over eastern Canada but extending into the Northeast. A few passing “short wave” upper air troughs embedded in the broader eastern North America upper trough and associated surface cold fronts may bring a threat of showers from time to time during the work week, but conditions do not appear ripe for severe weather or heavy rain during this period. A more significant upper trough, however, may amplify as it approaches the eastern Great Lakes this weekend and possibly set the stage for a more significant rain event for the latter part of the weekend. Some variation in temperatures is expected this week, but I’m not expecting any extreme hot or chilly temperatures in southern New England.
Note that there is a high risk of rip currents for south-facing beaches today and for east-facing beaches on Tuesday.
The tropics in the Atlantic Basin have remained quiet so far. Disturbances trying to develop in the main development region have encountered adverse wind shear thus far, a consequence of El Nino conditions in the Pacific. As the hurricane season progresses, there remains the possibility of a tropical system developing outside of the main development region and outside of the band of stronger winds aloft.
Next Message
The next message will probably be the weekly significant weather outlook scheduled for Monday August 24.
About this Blog and Disclaimer
The National Weather Service monitors the weather 24/7 and updates forecasts, watches, and warnings as necessary. For most of southern New England, refer to your local Weather Forecast Office for the latest forecast/warning information at weather.gov/box. For information from other Weather Forecast Offices, go to weather.gov and click on the location of interest on the map.
The frequency of this blog will depend upon the nature of the weather threat and availability of the author. Thus, for the latest information on weather forecasts and warnings, refer to the National Weather Service, which monitors and forecasts the weather 24/7.
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The BHOSC maintains a continuous daily observation record that dates from February 1, 1885 without interruption and provides educational information on weather and climate to area students and the community at large. Your support of BHOSC is much appreciated and enables this nonprofit organization to maintain the long-term climate record at the Blue Hill Observatory (longest continuous record in North America) and provide valuable educational resources on weather and climate via outreach to schools, site visits/tours, webinars, and conferences. For more information on the Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center, explore bluehill.org.
Message issued August 17, 2026 by:
Bob Thompson
Retired National Weather Service Meteorologist
Blue Hill Observatory and Science Center Board member
