Heavy rain threat in forecast could wash away the pollen coating Massachusetts

BOSTON – The WBZ Weather Team has issued a NEXT Weather Alert for the risk of some heavy downpours and scattered thunderstorms Thursday.

We are tracking the potential for some isolated heavy downpours. Scattered rain will be present in the first half of Thursday. Thunderstorms become more likely after lunch and into the evening hours.

Severe Weather Outlook

The potential for the strongest storms will be in western Massachusetts. That’s where we are under a marginal risk for severe weather Thursday. The main concern with those storms would be isolated heavy pockets of rain and stronger winds.

When will the rain and storms arrive in the Boston area?

Later in the day on Thursday, between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m., we may see scattered thunderstorms picking up.

Severe weather risk in Massachusetts

The overall severe weather risk is low on Thursday. This does not look like a classic severe weather day for New England.

Thursday will be quite muggy with dewpoints soaring well into the 60s. We will see a decline as we head toward the upcoming weekend.

Rain will help wash away pollen in Massachusetts

The good news is that any amount of rainfall will help to cleanse the area of all that yellowish pine pollen which is currently coating everything.  And, with a risk of some pop-up showers Friday and over the weekend, we should continue to see the slow decline of the pine pollen season.