60+ MPH Winds, Storms Cause Damage Across MA, When Will Sun Return?

MASSACHUSETTS — A wind-swept weekend with damaging gusts across Massachusetts will be followed by a soggy start to the new work week amid an unsettled weather pattern.

The National Weather Service recorded wind damage reports from across Worcester County and the Merrimack Valley on Saturday, with the top gusts of 65 mph in Westfield, 61 mph at Worcester Airport and 60 mph in Holden.

Trees were reported down in Tewksbury and Woburn with a downed tree trapping a person in a car in Bolton, according to NWS amateur radio reports.

Monday started off with more rain and occasional downpours with peeks of sun possible on the South Coast and Cape Cod and steadier showers north of the Mass. Pike. It was to also be a chilly day with highs only in the 50s.

One benefit of the rain-soaked week could be the easing of drought conditions that led to widespread brushfire concerns and early-season outdoor water bans across Massachusetts.

• Dangerous Brush Fire Conditions Spur Warnings, Burning Bans
• Danvers Residents Face Near-Full Early Outdoor Water Ban Amid Drought
• North Shore Brush Fire Rages For 6 Hours In Windy Conditions

Another half inch of rain is possible on Tuesday with the chance of thunderstorms before 1 p.m. and highs about 60 degrees.

"Chances of rain persist for much of the week, but (Monday) through Tuesday will be the wettest," the NWS said on Monday. "Showers with heavy rain will occur today and continue overnight and Tuesday. The heaviest rain through Tuesday is expected across interior Massachusetts and Connecticut where localized flooding is possible."

Wednesday will be warmer with an increased chance of damaging storms in the afternoon after 2 p.m.

The weather is forecast to finally break for a bit on Thursday with mostly sunny skies and only a 30 percent chance of showers. Highs will get back into the 70s.

Friday and Saturday could bring even more rain before skies clear later Saturday. The NWS long-range forecast is calling for a mostly sunny Mother's Day with a high of 73 degrees.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)