Forecast: Any Showers End Early, Sunshine Developing Later Today

I was thinking about planting eggplant and peppers in the garden Tuesday, but the problem was that it was too wet.

My soil just hasn't had a chance to dry out this spring since we have gotten adequate moisture, and it's been rather cool overall. Yes, we had three days of record heat last week, but amazingly, the soil in many places is still moist.

The bad news for the garden is the soil won't really have a chance to dry out much over the coming week with more rain and somewhat cool air in the future.

Today an area of rain will pass to the south of New England, just skirting the southern sections. As the day progresses, look for some brightening of the skies and sunshine by later in the day or the evening. Temperatures will be seasonably mild in the 60s inland and upper 50s to lower 60s at the coastline.

The next system approaches Thursday with more of a widespread rain. The steadiest and heaviest of the rain will be Thursday night and Friday morning before we are just left with some rain showers in the afternoon.

The moon is new this week, and that means higher tides than average. I expect some minor beach erosion and perhaps some coastal flooding at the time of high tide Thursday night and again Friday.

The weekend is not perfect by any means. Plan on Saturday as the mildest and best day of the three. On Sunday, I expect more clouds and a chance of showers, but not a washout for sure. Memorial Day itself is the coolest of the three days with that ever-present small chance of showers.

We haven't had a cooler-than-average May since 2008. If, as I expect, this pattern over the next week does hold up, this should be the first May to do so since then.

You can follow my updates here and on Twitter @growingwisdom.

Wednesday: Cloudy in the morning. Small risk for a period of showers early mainly over Cape Cod and the Islands. Clearing in the afternoon. A nice evening. Highs in the mid- to upper 60s.

Thursday: Clouds, showers developing late morning or early afternoon. Highs in the upper 50s.

Friday: Showers in the morning then cloudy. Highs in the low to mid-60s.

Saturday: Partly sunny. Highs 67-74.

Sunday: Clouds, sunny breaks, a possible shower.  Highs back to the mid-60s.