Timeline For Thunderstorms Released As Air Quality Alert Set To Expire In CT

CONNECTICUT — The air quality alert expires at 1 p.m. Friday for us. So after four days of dealing with unhealthy and smoky air quality, we'll finally be getting a respite.

The air may remain a bit smoky into Saturday, but the air quality alert is set to expire at 1 p.m. and conditions are forecast to improve significantly during the day on Friday.

However, there is a chance for rain showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and the weather service said "Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds." No storm advisories have been issued for Connecticut as of Friday morning. The best chance for storms is after 2 p.m. and through the evening hours, the weather service said. Odds of storms happening are 50 percent, the weather service said.

Rain showers may continue into the early morning hours of Saturday, but then the sun reappears later on and continues through Sunday. Temperatures will also moderate into the mid to upper 70s this weekend.

"It will still be a bit smoky from the Canadian wildfires; however, the smoke should not be as thick compared to the past couple of days as conditions gradually improve (the exception could be coastal SE CT where a developing southerly wind could draw thicker smoke back toward the shoreline)," wrote WFSB 3 TV meteorologists. "Furthermore, you’ll want the umbrella handy as there will be chance for showers, perhaps an isolated thunderstorm (although we are not forecasting severe weather). It’s all compliments of the meandering area of low pressure aloft that has been influencing our weather for the past several days." (Read/watch more forecast details at WFSB 3 TV).

Next week's weather forecast looks a bit unsettled as rain is possible Monday-Thursday, but the best chance for the most consistent rain appears to be Monday night and Tuesday, according to the weather service.

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Here are the forecast details for southern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Today: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Widespread haze before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then a slight chance of showers between midnight and 3am. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. West wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers after 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph.

Saturday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 8 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Monday: Showers likely, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Monday Night: Showers. Low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Tuesday: Showers, mainly before 3pm. High near 77. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers before 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59.

Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.

Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Thursday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.

Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:

Today: Scattered showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday: Isolated showers after 11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. West wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. South wind 5 to 7 mph.

Monday: A chance of showers after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind 6 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday Night: Showers. Low around 62. Southeast wind 11 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday: Showers. High near 77. Southeast wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Tuesday Night: Showers likely, mainly before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday: Showers likely. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Southwest wind 8 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday: A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. West wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.