With the core of the high-pressure settling just to the south of New England, we will see a sudden shift to warmer air and mostly sunny skies. Boston can expect to see temperatures reach the low 70s, along with the rest of New England.
Friday night should be a cool and crisp evening if you have plans, with the temperature slipping pretty quickly after sunset to the 50s under mostly clear skies.
The setup — sun continues with a warming trend this weekend
Not to sound like a broken record, but like Thursday, this is the same dense pocket of high pressure descending south from northern Canada, wielding very dry air and setting up a beautiful weekend.
The only difference is that the core of this system is today south of New England, which will initiate a more southwesterly flow, with warm air 4 to 7 degrees higher and moisture in the region. Skies will be mostly sunny with a couple of coastal clouds, but not much to block out any sunshine.
You can see, below, the change from cooler-than-average temperatures to warmer air spreading over New England Friday through the weekend as high pressure takes over the region.
Simply put, this weekend will be an absolute stunner, with sunny skies and temperatures increasing 5 to 10 degrees above average region-wide. The air is going to remain dry through the weekend, with temperatures in or near the 80s both days. Dew points will increase slightly into the low 50s, but it won’t feel muggy.
Meteorologists often refer to this as a “second summer,” and technically, we need to see warmer-than-average temperatures for more than five days. We’ll likely get there by Monday or Tuesday.
But remember, if you have plans the next few nights, temperatures will still drop into pretty chilly ranges. It is fall after all.
Greater Boston: Mostly sunny for each of the next three days. Highs into the low 70s on Friday, with Saturday and Sunday near 80. A hair cooler along the North and South Shores each day.
Southeastern Mass.: Mostly sunny Friday through Sunday. Warm afternoons with cool nights. Highs on Friday around 70. Into the mid- to upper 70s Saturday and Sunday.
Central/Western Mass.: Mostly sunny skies for the next three days. Highs in the low 70s on Friday and near 80 Saturday and Sunday. The Berkshires will be about 5 degrees cooler each day.
Cape and Islands: Mostly sunny Friday through Sunday. Some patchy morning fog each day, but lifts easily. Highs in the upper 60s and low 70s each day.
Rhode Island: Mostly sunny into next week. Friday highs reach the low 70s, with upper 70s in play on Saturday and Sunday.
New Hampshire: Bright and warm for the next three days. Highs reach the upper 60s and low 70s each day. Some spots in southern New Hampshire may reach the upper 70s or 80 degrees on Saturday and Sunday.
Vermont/Maine: Bright skies for the next three days. Some clouds are entering the picture on Sunday. Highs to the low 70s on Friday, with the mid- to upper 70s possible on Saturday and Sunday.
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Ken Mahan can be reached at ken.mahan@globe.com. Follow him on Instagram @kenmahantheweatherman.
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