Boston is climbing to near 89°F today under mostly sunny skies, with the heat index pushing toward 95 and a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms firing up this afternoon into evening — plan your outdoor time before mid-afternoon and keep an eye on the sky if you’re out past 5 PM ET.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service in Norton says the upper-level pattern is turning more zonal this weekend, but a fast-moving shortwave is enough to spark scattered storms this afternoon and evening. Dewpoints in the low-to-mid 70s mean the atmosphere is loaded with moisture, and forecasters note some storms could turn strong to severe, especially farther west toward interior southern New England. The good news: steering winds look a bit faster than recent days, so any storms should move through quickly rather than parking overhead.
Best Window To Be Outside
Morning through mid-afternoon is your best bet — sunny, hot, and dry. If you’re headed to the outdoor gear side of things, whether that’s fishing off the Harborwalk or a run along the Charles River Esplanade, get it done before lunch. A UPF 50+ sun hoodie is a smart, cheap way to handle the sun and heat index without overheating.
Storm & Heat Risk Tonight
Chance of storms sits around 20% this evening per the NWS forecast, with less than a tenth of an inch of rain likely where it does fall. Still, given the humidity and instability in the air, a stray strong storm with gusty wind and heavy downpours isn’t out of the question, particularly west and south of the city. Keep a packable rain jacket or compact travel umbrella handy if you’re out late.
Gameday & Weekend Events
It’s a busy night around town. The Boston Red Sox host the Athletics at Fenway Park today — grab Official team gear on Fanatics before first pitch, or Get tickets on SeatGeek if you’re still deciding. Over at Gillette Stadium, the New England Revolution take on Houston Dynamo, and with storm chances lingering into the evening, a hard cooler 52 quart for the tailgate is worth packing along with that rain jacket. Downtown, the J. Cole: The Fall-Off Tour hits TD Garden, and out at Xfinity Center, the Hilary Duff concert rolls on — Find tickets on StubHub for either show.
What To Wear Or Bring
Light, breathable clothing for the heat, sunscreen, water, and a rain layer for evening plans. West wind stays light at 5 to 9 mph, so it’ll feel muggy more than breezy.
Dinner Idea For A Muggy Night
With storms possible tonight, this is a good excuse to let something simmer indoors instead of grilling. A programmable slow cooker chili or a beef stew in an enameled cast iron Dutch oven fits the mood perfectly. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
NWS forecasters say very warm, humid weather continues through Wednesday with daily shower and storm chances, though Sunday looks like a lower-risk day with a sunny high near 91°F. Relief arrives late in the week as humidity and temperatures both trend down.
