Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Rhode Island, July 25, 2025

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
142 PM EDT Fri Jul 25 2025

.SYNOPSIS...
Above normal temperatures combined with high humidity levels
will bring impactful heat, potentially dangerous if precautions
not taken. Highs expected in low-mid 90s, but will feel more
like upper 90s to low 100s. Showers and thunderstorms possible
later Friday with a cold front with a couple storms strong to
severe with gusty winds and locally heavy downpours. Cooler and
mainly dry Saturday with showers and thunderstorms returning
for Sunday. Outlook for early next week shows summerlike warmth
and humidity, with generally dry weather for the majority of the
time.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
* Dangerous heat and humidity today for communities away from
  coastal RI and southern coast of MA.

* Isolated to scattered thunderstorms mid afternoon-early evening.
  Couple strong-severe storms possible.

* Damaging wind gusts are primary threat with any stronger storms. A
  secondary threat, locally heavy rainfall which may lead to
  isolated flash flooding.

Hot and humid conditions are expected today, approaching dangerous
levels which can have health impacts if proper precautions aren't
taken. The heat will be peaking today as 925mb temperatures rise
into the 25-28C range with a well-mixed boundary layer to support
highs in the low to mid 90s. The highest temperatures will be in the
valleys and Boston metro while breezy onshore flow will keep the
south shore a bit cooler in the upper 80s. It will feel considerably
more humid today compared to Thursday will dewpoints in the low
70s. This will make it "feel" like upper 90s to low 100s. We
will have a Heat Advisory in effect today for all areas except
the Berkshires, Cape/Islands, and south coast. Make sure you
have a location to stay cool, stay hydrated, take frequent
breaks if working outside, and avoid strenuous exercise
outdoors during the afternoon.

The next element of the day will be the chances for showers and
thunderstorms. An approaching shortwave trough and attendant cold
front with a unstable, moist airmass will support chances for
thunderstorms this afternoon. HREF mean MUCAPE shows values 1000-
1500 J/kg with model guidance showing MLCAPE values between 600-1200
J/kg, so lower end moderate instability around. 0-6 km bulk shear
values range 20-35 kts which should be sufficient to support
organization in some clusters/cells. Mid-level lapse rates will be
on the lower end, but low level lapse rates will likely be steep
~9C/km. This environment should support the potential for a handful
of stronger to severe storms. Main threat will be damaging winds
followed by localized heavy rainfall. SPC has the region in a Slight
Risk (level 2 of 5). CAMs continue to show storm coverage as
isolated to scattered in nature. The most likely window is still
between 2 PM and 10 PM for thunderstorms with storms developing from
NW (Western MA) to SE (RI & SE MA). Storms should clear the Cape and
Islands by midnight.

There will be plenty of moisture available today with precipitable
water 150-170% of normal with values around 1.5-2". Model soundings
show sufficient warm cloud depths as well for efficient rain
processes. This together will support thunderstorms capable of
locally heavy rain fall rates, and thus an isolated flash flood
risk. The 00z runs have backed off some from previous runs with
regards to HREF probabilities for 6-hour precipitation exceeding 5
or 10 year ARIs. However, there is a 5-15% probability for 6 hr
precip exceeding the 2 year ARI across northern RI and
east/southeast MA. The HREF PMM 3-hr QPF highlights similar areas
with higher probabilities for > 1". This provides context that a few
storms may be capable of causing localized flash flood impacts to
areas especially flood prone ones (low lying, poor drainage,
urban). However, a widespread flash flood risk is not likely.
Additionally, winds aloft should keep storms moving which will
prevent a storm from sitting over an area dropping heavy rain.

&&

.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Key Messages:

* Drier and cooler Saturday

Friday Night:

The cold front fully swings through southern New England this
evening with NW winds filling behind it by late evening.
Temperatures drop into the mid to upper 60s for most areas.

Saturday:

A drier airmass will be in place on Saturday behind Friday's
front. It will be considerably cooler as well with 850mb
temperatures closer to normal. This will yield highs in the low
to mid 80s, perhaps a few upper 80s in the CT Valley. Easterly
flow will likely keep the locations along the immediate eastern
coastline a bit cooler in the upper 70s.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
Key Messages:

* Showers and thunderstorms around Sunday.

* High temps mainly in the 80s next week with a few shower/storm
  chances but mostly dry.

Sunday:

An embedded shortwave in the flow aloft flow moves through
Sunday bringing back higher amounts of moisture, clouds, and
shower/storm chances. Timing and location of best chances are
still lower confidence. Chances will be higher for the
afternoon-early evening timeframe.

Next week:

Next week the region remains under general NW aloft with a
series of weak shortwaves moving through flow bringing periodic
chances for showers/thunderstorms. There isn't any strong
signals at this point for a large/organized system, so it should
stay mainly dry outside of some scattered activity.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

Low - less than 30 percent.
Moderate - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

18Z update...

Today: Moderate in timing of storms, but high confidence in
trends.

VFR. SSW/SW winds at 8-14 kts with occasional gusts up to 22
kts in the afternoon. Isolated to scattered TSRA likely. Best
timeframe between 18z through 02z as storms develop in northwest
MA and move southeast. Due to low coverage of storms, kept the
PROB30 for TSRA at most terminals per latest CAMS. Within storms
can expect brief MVFR conditions, gusty winds, torrential rain,
and frequent lightning.

Tonight: High Confidence.

Any lingering storms exit the coastal waters/islands by 06z.
Cold front drops from NW to SE early evening, shifting winds
from SW to NW speeds at 8-12 kts. Ceilings are generally VFR
with lingering MVFR possible for the outer Cape and Islands.
There is potential for a period of FG/BR for the Cape and
Islands after 00-02z after the cold front moves through.

Saturday: High Confidence.

VFR. Northeast winds 5-8 kts for the interior and 6-12 kts
closer to the coast.

Saturday Night: High Confidence

VFR. NE winds turning SE 5-8 kts.

KBOS terminal...High confidence trends, moderate confidence in
timing for KBOS TAF.

Exact timing of line of storms lower confidence. Storms are
expected to be scattered in coverage making it more difficult to
pin point exact timing. Kept as a PROB30 group.

KBDL terminal...High confidence trends, moderate confidence in
timing for KBDL TAF.

Outlook /Sunday through Wednesday/...

Sunday: Mainly VFR, with local IFR possible. Chance SHRA,
slight chance TSRA.

Sunday Night: VFR. Slight chance SHRA.

Monday through Monday Night: VFR.

Tuesday: VFR. Breezy. Slight chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA.

Tuesday Night: VFR. Slight chance SHRA.

Wednesday: Slight chance SHRA, slight chance TSRA.

&&

.MARINE...
Forecaster Confidence Levels...

Low - less than 30 percent.
Medium - 30 to 60 percent.
High - greater than 60 percent.

Through Saturday Night...High Confidence.

SW winds 10-15 kts, closer to 20 kts for the southern waters
with gusts 20-25 kts. Borderline criteria for SCAs for southern
waters, Cape Cod Bay, Nantucket Sound and Buzzards Bay. Storms
develop late afternoon into early evening as a cold front slides
from the northwest to southeast, then pushing south of the
waters by early Saturday morning and shifting wind to the NNW.
Winds veer SSW Saturday evening.

Outlook /Sunday through Wednesday/...

Sunday through Sunday Night: Winds less than 25 kt. Slight
chance of rain showers.

Monday through Monday Night: Winds less than 25 kt.

Tuesday through Wednesday: Winds less than 25 kt. Slight chance
of rain showers.

&&

.BOX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
CT...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for CTZ002>004.
MA...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for MAZ003>007-
     010>019-026.
RI...Heat Advisory until 8 PM EDT this evening for RIZ001>004.
MARINE...None.

&&

SYNOPSIS...BW/FT
NEAR TERM...McMinn/FT
SHORT TERM...McMinn/FT
LONG TERM...BW
AVIATION...Dooley/McMinn
MARINE...McMinn

Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
243 PM EDT Fri Jul 25 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0232 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 N Wellesley           42.33N 71.29W
07/25/2025                   Middlesex          MA   Fire Dept/Rescue

            In Weston, a tree are wires were down on Rt
            20 at Wellesley St. A tree was also down on
            Gail Rd. Relayed by amateur radio.

&&

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Preliminary Local Storm Report
National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA
253 PM EDT Fri Jul 25 2025

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0235 PM     Tstm Wnd Dmg     2 NNW Newton            42.36N 71.22W
07/25/2025                   Middlesex          MA   Law Enforcement

            In Newton, a tree was down on wires on
            Fairway Dr. Relayed by amateur radio.

&&

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