Heavy rain and wind predicted for overnight Sunday into Monday are prompting warnings of damage to utility lines and potential for flooding.
National Grid announced Sunday they would have additional staff on hand to deal with the impacts of a low pressure system bringing strong winds and potentially dropping three inches of rain in less than 24 hours.
“National Grid is prepared for a storm to potentially impact Massachusetts late Sunday evening throughout the day Monday, bringing gusting winds and rainy conditions into the region,” the power company said in a release. “Strong wind gusts have the potential to damage trees and knock down power wires, causing power outages in impacted locations. Wind gusts of up to 65 mph are possible for some coastal areas.”
According to National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Doody, the storm should start overnight Sunday. Winds may gust to over 50 mph in Boston and the rain could cause some localized flooding near bodies of water or in low lying areas, he said.
“The next 24 hours or so we’ve got a pretty strong low pressure system that’s going to make its way up the coastline of the U.S. and bring us a period of pretty heavy rainfall and strong winds,” he said. “There’s about a 12-or-so hour window in there where we’re looking at some very strong wind gusts.”
The weather service has issued a high wind warning that will be in effect from 5 a.m. on Monday until 7 p.m. that evening.
“Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines. Power outages are possible. Travel will be difficult, especially for high profile vehicles,” the warning reads, in part.
Temperatures Monday will be unseasonably high, Doody said, starting near 50 in the morning and reaching into the lower 60s by the afternoon. Rain should clear by 5 p.m., according to the weather service, and overnight lows going into Tuesday are expected to stay in the lower 40s.
Partial sun on Tuesday only warms the region back toward the upper 40s, as a high pressure system moves in and brings more seasonable air with it, Doody said. There is an about 40% chance of rain in the Boston region during Tuesday’s morning commute, according to the weather service. Freezing temperatures return overnight with lows near 30 degrees.
No rain is forecast for Wednesday, though the mercury won’t climb out of the lower 40s as the day carries on under that high pressure system. Overnight lows will likely fall back into the lower 30s.
More of the same is expected Thursday, with highs in the lower 40s under sunny skies. Winds could peak near 20 mph, according to the weather service. Overnight lows are expected to fall into the upper 20s.
Friday will be the coldest commuting or holiday travel day, Doody said, with highs only reaching the upper 30s and overnight lows back into the 20s.
Weekend temperatures in the 40s will likely prevent a snowy Christmas in Boston this year, Doody said.
“Unfortunately, the white-Christmas chances are looking quite low right now,” he said. “I don’t want to say absolutely zero, but it’s pretty close.”