Today's Weather: A Windy, Wet Nor’easter Comes This Afternoon — And Stays Until Friday

It’s that time of year again when we need to start thinking about the development of coastal storms that typically affect the northeastern United States. There happens to be one forming now, but the air will not be cold enough to cause the dreaded white stuff.

In fact, this system may take on tropical characteristics thanks to the warmer Gulf Stream waters offshore. Not only will this system spread heavy rain into the region, there will be a prolonged period of windy conditions as well. Some wind gusts along the South Shore and the Islands could reach 55 to 60 mph at times.

This will be a very slow-moving storm that will stall and track in a loop just south of Cape Cod later Thursday into Friday. There is a risk for coastal flooding at times of high tide along with beach erosion. Rainfall amounts will range from 3 to 5 inches from Wednesday afternoon through Friday evening with local flooding possible.

High Tides - Boston
Wed.: 9:06 a.m. and 9:18 p.m.
Thu: 9:52 a.m. and 10:05 p.m.
Fri: 10:32 a.m. and 10:48 p.m.

A large mass of clouds to our south will be organizing into a rather large ocean storm reaching its peak intensity Thursday morning. Bands of rain, some heavy, will rotate northwest and into the area today. Periods of rain and windy conditions will persist into Friday. The storm will slowly move over the weekend.

Meteorologist: Dave Goldbaum for Dave Epstein

Wednesday: Cloudy, breezy. Rain developing by afternoon. High 58.

Wednesday night: Rainy, becoming windy. Some downpours. Low 48.

Thursday: Periods of rain, some heavy. Windy. High 53.

Friday: Rain tapering to showers in the afternoon. Diminishing wind. High 55.

Saturday: Few lingering morning showers, partial clearing evening. Highs 55-60.

Sunday: Partly sunny, milder. High 65-70.