It's an extended period of hot dry weather into next week. Even when we finally get a chance of showers and thunderstorms it will not be soaking rain, more likely hit or miss afternoon storms..

We've had a nice comfortable stretch of weather the past few days, but look at the heat building out west. Along with the heat it's very muggy. That heat and humidity really hit us next week.

There is a moderate risk of rip currents along the North Shore on Saturday. Check with the life guards if you have a question. Otherwise it will be cooler at the beach than inland but the high tide comes in right in the middle of the day.

It's going to be hot and dry well into next week. Humidity ramps up on Monday. Unfortunately no widespread soaking rain. Just a threat of afternoon thunderstorms on Wednesday and Friday.

As high pressure drifts east the temperature and the humidity increase. By Thursday the font will be close enough to trigger thunderstorms.

We've had 2 heat waves and 17 days at 90 or above. Remember how cold and wet the early summer was? Expect 2 or 3 more hot days before we cool down.

This is one of my favorite astronomical events. (As long as the mosquitoes aren't too bad.) It peaks Tuesday night but sometimes you can see a few "shooting stars" before and after peak.

The humidity will peak Wednesday and there is a risk of thunderstorms Wed, mostly in western MA. There is a better chance of thunderstorms on Thursday but it not a guarantee everyone will get needed rain.

This is the European Model NEXT week. You can see Hurricane Erin working north along the East coast. 9 days out it looks to pass several hundred miles off shore, but certainly something to watch. The Euro model is tracking the closest to the East coast of most of the models. .

Another hot one tomorrow. With a boost in humidity Wednesday will likely be the most uncomfortable of this latest heat wave.

Tonight is the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Look up over night and let me know if you see anything. The full moon is overpowering the faint flashes. So only the big "shooting stars" will be visible.

Wednesday will be the hottest of this spell. The best chance for thunderstorms on Wed is in western MA. The threat shifts east on Thurs. Cooler, less humid air moves in Fri and Saturday. An afternoon t'storm is possible on Sunday.

Based on radar 2-4" of rain fell in parts of the Merrimack Valley. We had a number of reports of flooded roads. Lots of lightning and some gusty winds came with these storms. We may repeat this on Thursday afternoon.

Expect another round of thunderstorms Thursday afternoon. These could get strong to severe with lightning, gusty winds and heavy downpours. After that it's a very dry forecast. Possibly a few shower Sunday night but I don't expect much.

This is a large area of hail quickly moving south. If you're in Hanson you might want to put your car in the garage.

Here are rain totals from the storms on Thursday. Today's storms were moving faster than yesterday so the totals where a fraction of what we saw in the Merrimack Valley last night. It came with lots of lightning and gusty winds. Welcomed rain for many.

Here's the spaghetti plot. It shows the track all the various computer models of where they think Hurricane Erin will go. Most are saying it will stay off the East Coast. It's closest approach to us will be next Thursday.

Hurricane Erin will get stronger as it nears the East Coast next week. It appears it will track well off shore but rip currents and large swells will impact the coast from Florida to Maine.

Most weather forecast models are keeping Hurricane Erin well off shore next week. It will make it's closest pass to New England on Thursday about 500 miles off shore.

It's a very dry forecast. Sunday night there may be a few isolated thunderstorms, but not a guarantee of rain for most of us. It will be cooler next week.