Volatile Weather Could Bring Hail, Strong Winds Through Afternoon

Volatile weather could shake up much of southern New England Thursday in what will be an unseasonably cool day.

The National Weather Service issued a hazardous weather outlook for all of Massachusetts east of Berkshire County for scattered thunderstorms featuring damaging winds, large hail and the slim possibility of tornadoes.

The southwest part of the state is at greatest risk for the most severe weather, including what the weather service said is a 2 percent chance for "an isolated tornado or two." The entire state has between a 5-15 percent chance for large hail and damaging winds. It all depends how far northeast warm, humid air moves.

The timing of the storms is expected to be mid-to-late afternoon. Temperatures throughout Thursday will struggle to break into the 70s.

Some parts of Massachusetts are steel reeling from Sunday's sudden storm. More than 31,000 were without power at one point as hail and wind whipped across the region. Middlesex and Essex counties were hardest-hit.

Boston-area forecast via NWS

Today - A chance of showers before 3pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 3pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Cloudy, with a high near 64. Light and variable wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight - A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Patchy fog after 5am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday - Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming west 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Friday Night - A slight chance of showers between 10pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday - A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 7am. Patchy fog before 10am. High near 79. South wind 3 to 8 mph. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Saturday Night - Showers and thunderstorms likely before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Patchy fog before 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday - Sunny, with a high near 77. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Sunday Night - Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Northwest wind around 6 mph.

Monday - Sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.

Monday Night - Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. Calm wind.

Tuesday - Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday Night - Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 6 mph.

Wednesday - A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.