Good afternoon, We are still expecting a period of strong to damaging wind gusts Thursday night into Friday morning as a strong cold front sweeps through. The wind threat is the primary concern. *Changes with this update:* - High Wind Watch expanded across Rhode Island and southeast MA up to the I-95 corridor from Providence to Boston for Thursday night into Friday morning. - Wind advisory issued for the rest of southern New England Thursday night into Friday morning. - Gale Watches converted to Gale Warnings for all waters Thursday afternoon into Friday. *Details:* *Winds:* - *Timing and Peak Gusts:* - Strongest winds from the south will occur between midnight and 6 am from west to east. - Gusts 40-50 mph in the interior, with 50-60 mph possible across Rhode Island and eastern MA, including the Cape/Islands. - Another surge of strong west wind gusts to 40-50 mph are expected Friday morning, especially over the higher terrain in interior MA. - *Impacts:* Some tree damage with scattered power outages. - *Uncertainty:* Strong winds will be present just off the surface, though it is not clear how much of these winds will translate to the surface. If temperatures warm to 70 degrees Thursday night, this will increase the probability of getting strong winds to the surface. Also, a narrow line of heavy showers co-located with the front could help focus areas of strong to damaging winds. *Rain:* - *Timing:* Periods of showers tonight and Thursday, but the heaviest rainfall, possibly accompanied by a rumble or two of thunder, will be Thursday night, especially across western and central MA and northern CT. - *Amounts:* 0.75 to 1.5 inches, heaviest interior. - *Impacts*: Limited. Isolated poor drainage flooding possible from leaf-clogged storm drains. - *Uncertainty*: Areas of thunder could enhance rainfall rates, though this potential would be mainly southeast of I-95. Graphics pertaining to the peak wind gusts in MPH, as well as the event total rainfall, are attached. If you have any questions or would like more information, don't hesitate to contact us via this email address, on NWSChat <https://nwschat.weather.gov/>, or at the following: National Weather Service Boston/Norton, MA 46 Commerce Way Norton, MA 02766 508.622.3280 Website <http://www.weather.gov/boston> | Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/NWSBoston> | Twitter <http://www.twitter.com/NWSBoston>
