Today will be windy along the coast and Cape, with inland winds reaching 24 km/h at times and gusts reaching nearly 48 km/h, particularly down near the Cape.

Flooding due to spring tides possible

Although the storm at sea will not bring much rain, it will not be a pleasant thing for the coasts.

Gusty winds pushing ashore will increase wave heights, especially during today’s strong high tide known as the “spring tide” at 1:27 p.m., increasing the risk of coastal flooding. High tides of at least 12 feet are expected, triggering a flood warning for the Boston coast for most of Friday. High surf and rip current warnings are also in effect along nearly the entire New England coast.

Spring tides occur three to four times a year when the Earth, Moon, and Sun line up in a line that increases the gravitational pull on the oceans. Essentially, the Sun and Moon pull on the Earth together. These tides are usually 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 centimeters) higher than average tides and often flood Boston Harbor and other low-lying areas.

The high pressure systems New England has experienced recently have brought with them very dry air, which has killed off shower activity pretty quickly. With high pressure to the north, that means any showers moving westward from the ocean into New England should dissipate — and they won’t be able to get too far inland. Worcester, Manchester, NH, and Augusta, Maine, should get just a few showers at most.

As high and low pressure fight for the best position, high pressure usually wins, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Boston and parts of the West see a dry day rather than a wet one. The South Shore and Cape are likely to see the most rain, with nearly an inch of rain expected through Saturday.

Today’s maximum values

Weekend Outlook – Boston

On Saturday, the low pressure system is likely to continue, bringing cloudy and windy conditions across the city. The chance of rain remains low, and if rain does reach the city, it is likely to be light as the system begins to break down late Saturday.

Afternoon temperatures will again reach the upper 60s, but could shoot up to 70 or 71 degrees if the sun breaks through at the right moment in the afternoon. You can safely expect a breeze to stick around — up to 15 mph from the northeast.

Sunday is the first day of astronomical fall, and it will likely be celebrated with more sunshine across the region as the system finally drifts south. Clouds will still be floating around, but the sun should shine frequently. Highs could be between 18 and 21 degrees. Scattered showers should die down by the afternoon.

Weekend Outlook – New England

Southern New England: Daily variations will be slight, with high and low pressure settling in to the north and south. Daytime highs in Worcester and Providence and to the east should stay above 18 degrees Friday through Sunday, with locally higher values ​​reaching 21 degrees. Rain chances will be relatively low, but not impossible. Scattered light showers may occasionally move into the region each day, with very little precipitation. West of Worcester and Providence, the chance of showers is lower and the chance of more sunshine than clouds is higher. Expect weekend highs in Hartford to be just under 21 degrees.

Western Massachusetts: This weekend will be a mix of partly to mostly cloudy skies, with the possibility of isolated showers on each of the next three days. Temperatures in the Berkshires should remain steady at around 18 degrees, while temperatures in the Pioneer Valley will be just above 20 degrees. Most of the weekend will remain dry.

Cape and Islands: Closest to the action, with the greatest chance of seeing persistent rain throughout Friday and Saturday. There will be breaks with mostly cloudy skies and precipitation should remain light to moderate at best. The peninsula and islands will see rainfall amounts of around 1 to 2 inches from today through Sunday morning. Showers will taper off by Sunday afternoon. Daytime highs will be around 21 degrees with a nuisance breeze of 15 to 20 mph.

Northern New England: The end of the week and into the weekend will remain relatively unscathed. Partly cloudy skies with temperatures around 21 degrees from Friday to Sunday. A heavy shower may reach southern New Hampshire or Maine on Friday and Saturday, but that’s about it. High pressure to the north should keep the area mostly dry.

Reach Ken Mahan at [email protected]. Follow him on Instagram @kenmahantheweatherman.