High Wind, Excessive Rain, Tornadoes: See Risks In Friday's Predicting Strong Storms

MASSACHUSETTS — Massachusetts will see one final burst of severe weather Friday afternoon before a stretch of dry, warm days over the next week, according to the National Weather Service.

The central and western parts of the state have the greatest risk of seeing strong storms starting Friday afternoon with high winds and heavy rain. But parts of the state between Worcester and the greater Boston area may get soaked, forecasts show.

Here are some probability estimates from the National Weather Service for severe weather on Friday:

• Tornadoes — 2 to 4% chance from Amherst west to the New York border
• High winds — 5 to 14% chance from the Worcester area west to the New York border
• Hail — 5 to 14% chance from the Worcester area west to the New York border
• Excessive rainfall — 5% or greater risk between the Quabbin Reservoir and I-95

The storms will hit between 2 and 9 p.m. Friday. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for areas west of the Quabbin.

"A few strong to severe thunderstorms are possible this afternoon and early evening. The main threats are damaging winds, flash flooding and large hail," the outlook says.

The threat of storms will be gone by sunrise Saturday. The weather service is predicting a stretch of dry summer weather that's largely been absent so far this season.