Pockets of Rain Could Bring Flash Flooding

We now have three separate hurricanes in the Atlantic basin — Jose and Katia, along with Irma, as Category 1 hurricanes. Jose is trailing due east of Irma, out in the open Atlantic for now and likely following a similar path before veering northward of the Leeward Islands as a Category 3 by Sunday.

However, we are still focused on Hurricane Irma as it lashed the Leeward Islands earlier today — the strongest storm on record in the Atlantic Ocean with 185 miles per hour sustained winds and gusts estimated over 200 mile per hour — Florida prepares for impacts from Irma this weekend.

Although the exact track of the storm is still uncertain, rain, wind and waves seem all but certain to impact the Sunshine State by Saturday given the sheer size of the storm. Here at home, we do expect to eventually see some of Irma’s moisture, but not until the middle of next week — for now, we’re dealing with tropical humidity and resultant periodic downpours and thunder as a slow-moving frontal system trudges across the Northeast corridor.

In fact, with so much moisture in the atmosphere, a few thunderstorms may drop enough rain quickly to result in localized flash flooding anytime through early Thursday morning. Though placement of downpours is always tricky, generally speaking most of us will see periods of rain, then the action peels inland of Route 495 in Eastern Massachusetts by evening with another line of steady rainfall along the Cape and the Islands after 9 p.m., with overnight into early Thursday morning downpours marking the end of the tropical air and start of new, crisp fall air.

Breaks of sun are expected Thursday with a few sprinkles and highs in the 70s, then comfortable air in the 60s will greet the Patriots as they open at Gillette Stadium against the Chiefs on NBC Boston. Friday through the weekend will feel like fall but should bring fair sky, and the next strong disturbance —slated for Tuesday evening through Wednesday — is the one that could pick up some of Irma’s moisture for enhanced rainfall in the exclusive Early Warning Weather 10-day.

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