Weather Boston: Thursday commute gets scattered showers, 50s

Weather Boston starts Thursday with widespread scattered showers across Massachusetts and Southern New England during the commute into work. The rain tapers off by mid- to late morning, but Boston could still see a spot sprinkle or shower later in the day.

Greater Boston is set for cloudy weather with morning showers and a few scattered sprinkles possible during the afternoon. Highs should reach the low 50s along the coast and the mid-50s in the city, with temperatures similar to Wednesday and mainly in the 50s.

Boston commute and dry afternoon

By Thursday afternoon and evening, Southern New England should generally be dry. The timing gives commuters the earliest disruption, while most later travel and outdoor plans in the region will fall after the main band of rain has moved through.

Boston is not expected to get a heavy amount from this system. Rain totals should stay well under a half-inch in Boston and the rest of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, which keeps the local impact limited to a wet morning and a few leftover sprinkles.

Maine takes the heavier rain

The bulk of Thursday’s rain will fall over Maine, where totals are expected to run between 1 and 3 inches. Heavier rain is also likely across portions of New Hampshire and most of Maine, while much of the southern part of the region sees lighter amounts.

The source says much of the region would need 2.5 inches of rain or more over a six-hour window to trigger flash flooding. That threshold is well above the forecast for Boston and most of Massachusetts, but it helps explain why the wetter stretch to the north is the part worth watching most closely.

The rain should be useful for areas up north without bringing the flood risk that would come with a much larger total. For Boston, the practical result is simpler: plan on a damp commute, then expect the afternoon to be mostly dry with only a small chance of another sprinkle or shower.