Weather for New England and the Northeast

**Area Forecast Discussion, National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 708 AM EDT Fri Sep 4 2026**

**What has Changed**

No significant changes to the forecast.

**Key Messages**

1. Mainly dry and pleasant today and Saturday with a chance for some isolated showers Saturday afternoon.

2. Cooler weather this weekend into early next week gives way to a warming trend and the chance for unsettled weather by midweek.

3. Dangerous conditions at the beach for the holiday weekend, with the rip current risk increasing Sunday and Labor Day.

**Discussion**

**Key Message 1, Mainly dry and pleasant today and Saturday**

The next couple of days should be drier and mild as winds from the northwest around a closed low pressure system bring a drier air mass into the region. Precipitable water, or PWAT, values, which measure the amount of moisture available in the atmosphere, will fall below 1.00 inch this afternoon and remain relatively low into Saturday.

Despite the overall drier air, a broad cutoff low over the Canadian Maritimes will maintain a small chance of isolated showers today and Saturday. The greatest chance for shower activity will be Saturday as a disturbance, known as a shortwave, moves south from Canada.

Both days will feature some afternoon cumulus clouds as the lower atmosphere becomes more unstable during the daytime.

Today will be the warmest day of the forecast period as a slightly warmer air mass moves into the region. Temperatures around 5,000 feet briefly reach about 59 degrees this afternoon before falling to about 46 degrees Saturday. This supports high temperatures in the low to mid 80s today and low to mid 70s Saturday.

**Key Message 2, Cooler weather followed by a warming trend**

The upper-air pattern from late this weekend into next week will gradually shift from a blocking pattern, which tends to keep weather systems in place, toward a more typical west-to-east flow. This change occurs as the persistent closed low pressure system over Nova Scotia finally moves away from the eastern United States.

Higher pressure aloft will then build as a broad area of high pressure strengthens to the southeast. At the surface, this should produce a generally quiet weather pattern with high pressure remaining fairly persistent across the Northeast.

The next opportunity for unsettled weather comes around midweek as a strong disturbance moves north of the region. Forecast guidance suggests a relatively compact and seasonably strong surface low could develop in response. Details remain uncertain this far in advance, but there is a chance for more unsettled weather around the middle of next week.

Temperatures aloft will be cooler Sunday as the mid-level low remains east of New England. Temperatures around 2,500 to 3,000 feet will be only about 46 to 50 degrees. With daytime mixing, this should support highs in the upper 60s to low 70s.

Sunday should feel very much like autumn, with a mix of sun and clouds, northerly winds, and dew points in the low 50s. While winds will not be overly strong, the combination of cooler temperatures and lower humidity will make for a crisp day.

Sunday night could feature good radiational cooling, meaning the ground loses heat efficiently under clearer skies and lighter winds. How cool temperatures become will depend on how quickly the winds diminish.

Forecast guidance is also showing this cooling trend Saturday night and Sunday night. The latest forecast shows widespread temperatures in the 50s, with some readings in the upper 40s possible in the higher terrain of northern Massachusetts.

Temperatures should rebound early next week as temperatures around 2,500 to 3,000 feet climb to about 57 to 64 degrees. This should support near-seasonable highs in the upper 70s for Labor Day, followed by upper 70s to lower 80s Tuesday into the middle of next week.

Humidity should remain comfortable, with dew points generally in the upper 50s to around 60 degrees. Labor Day itself looks quiet and dry, although there will be a high risk for rip currents along the ocean beaches.

**Key Message 3, Dangerous beach conditions**

Persistent northeast winds, long-period ocean swell, and offshore seas of 4 to 7 feet will continue to support an elevated risk of dangerous rip currents through the holiday weekend. The greatest concern will be Sunday into Labor Day, particularly along east-facing ocean beaches.

Even though the weather itself should be quiet, ocean conditions may still be hazardous. Anyone heading to the beach should check with local beach staff or lifeguards regarding current ocean conditions before entering the water.