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Forecasters warn of bleak weather this evening

E-mail|Link|Comments () August 24, 2010 05:44 PM

By L. Finch, Globe Correspondent

A bleak mix of steady rain and patchy fog is in store for this evening as commuters begin the ride home, according to the National Weather Service in Taunton.

The rain is expected to taper off by tomorrow night, when the system begins to move out of the area, according to the agency. Temperatures should remain cool in the mid-60s until then.

The wet stuff fell for most of the day throughout the eastern part of the state, over which the storm hovered, according to the agency. Meteorologists have measured more than two inches total rainfall since the storm began Sunday in some parts of the Cape.

Meanwhile, the unusual summer nor’easter downed trees and power wires Monday on Cape Cod, and forecasters warned the swirling storm could produce dangerous breakers and riptides along the coast today.

The NWS in Taunton issued a high surf advisory early this morning for the entire eastern Massachusetts coastline, ending at 6 p.m. tonight. Strong northeast winds could push waves of up to 12 feet to shore, and sea levels could rise 1 to 1 1/2 feet, causing beach erosion in some areas, according to the agency.

“That’s high; that’s not what they typically are,” said Kim Buttrick, a meteorologist for the agency. “The waves have built up because of this persistent northeast wind that has been blowing.”

Rough waves played a role in the capsizing of a boat off Revere on Monday night. All four young men in the boat were able to make it to shore, but a local fire official said it was "probably foolhardy" for them to have ventured out in this weather.

Wind gusts reached more than 50 miles per hour Monday, but meteorologists predicted calmer air today, the third day of the storm, with winds of 5 to15 miles per hour. Damage reports have trickled in from southeastern parts of the state, describing trees, tree limbs and wires downed from the strong winds, according to the agency.

The storm system is expected to move out of the area by Thursday morning.