Mass. could see flooding risk as new thunderstorms could come Tuesday, with heat likely to stay

Massachusetts could see another muggy day as the heat continues, but a chance for isolated thunderstorms could bring with it a flood risk.

All of this is prologued by potential rainfall and isolated thunderstorms Monday night, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters anticipate scattered downpours, with localized amounts ranging between 1 to 2 inches.

Overnight lows are expected to be in the 70s, but urban areas could struggle to see conditions cool down below 70 degrees, forecasters said.

The weather service’s heat advisory for most of Massachusetts, excluding Western Massachusetts’ border with New York, remains in effect until Tuesday at 8 p.m. Heat index values could reach 100, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses.

“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the advisory read.

Tuesday is expected to see widespread unsettled weather, with a cold front likely moving south and east throughout the day, forecasters continued. Precipitable water is expected to be as much as 2 and a half inches, with a 15% chance for localized flash flooding to occur, according to a weather service post on X.

Though not every area could see heavy rain, “any storm that forms in this environment will be capable of producing rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour,” forecasters wrote.

“Communities most at risk include poor drainage and urban areas with little in the way of permeable surfaces,” they added.

Along with heavy rain, forecasters said there’s a good chance for no severe weather, but they will not rule out isolated strong to severe storms that could result in damaging wind gusts. Western and Central Massachusetts have a chance of seeing severe weather.

Additionally, with the storm chances on Tuesday, almost all of Massachusetts has an elevated chance of seeing lightning, forecasters warned. Some exceptions include Great Barrington and the southwestern corner of Massachusetts, and the Cape and Islands. These particular regions have a limited risk of seeing lightning.

After Tuesday, the chances for rain are likely to be hit and miss until Thursday night, with as much as over 2 inches of precipitable water expected to fall in some areas between Tuesday and Thursday night, forecasters said.

A stationary front is expected to dictate conditions for the rest of the week, forecasters said. Temperatures should be near or below average, in the high 70s in cities like Worcester and Boston, or the low 80s in Springfield.