As temperatures climb, smoke drifting in from wildfires burning in Canada could bring hazy skies and reduced air quality to Massachusetts.
The daytime on Tuesday is expected to be sunny, warm and dry across the state, according to National Weather Service forecasters.
Temperatures may reach the upper 70s to low 80s after a cool start in the morning, and humidity levels should remain low. The coastline may be a few degrees cooler with a light breeze.
But smoke may begin to “gradually filter in” to Massachusetts skies late afternoon, forecasters warn.
The smoke on Tuesday — projected to stay high in the clouds — isn’t expected to cause air quality issues for people on the ground, but residents may notice haziness by sunset, according to forecaster Matthew Belk.
But air quality could worsen Wednesday into Thursday as hot, dry conditions pull wildfire smoke closer to the ground, Belk said.
Temperatures are projected to climb to the mid and upper 80s on Wednesday, and could hit the 90s on Thursday.
A “moderate” impact in air quality is expected across Eastern Massachusetts on Wednesday, according to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
This “moderate” impact in air quality may spread statewide by Thursday, except for Cape Cod & the Islands.
But a break in the dry conditions on Thursday afternoon should help “cleanse the atmosphere” of smoke before another weekend of wet weather, Belk said.
As heat and humidity increase, clouds are expected to move in Thursday afternoon, bringing a chance of thunderstorms and downpours.
The precipitation will give way to another hot and humid day on Friday, with cloudy skies and temperatures in the 80s. Another round of showers late Friday is expected to break the heat, as residents prepare for a rainy Saturday evening into Sunday.
Between a half-inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain is projected to fall overnight by Sunday morning. The end of the weekend may dry out, but cooler temperatures are expected.
