Pete Bouchard

We’re in for another day of warm temperatures, but this seems like the end of the line for this particular spell. A cold front will cross overnight and into the early morning hours, dropping us back to the 60s Thursday, and deepening the chill Friday, as we close in on our normal high for this time of year, 59. What isn’t normal is the lack of rain over the past couple of months. It seemed like a side story to the wonderful late-summer weather, but now the drought has grown concerning. Most of the landscape seems in good order thanks…

A cold front will sink us back into the 60s on Thursday, and although that's still “warm," it's not nearly as toasty as the last three days.

Although we can mark this as a cooldown, it's hardly bringing us below seasonable levels. Typically, we'd be in the upper 50s for high temperatures.

Wildfires continue to flare up across New England as growing drought combines with winds and dry air to create ideal conditions for fires to spark and grow. The problem isn’t solely with the lack of rain, but with the season, as well.

It’s been a very dry autumn thus far. Only a smidge above two inches since Sept. 1 in Boston puts this at the third driest autumn so far. Worcester ranks at second driest. We’re very likely to get more rain through the end of November to round out fall, but trend is certainly concerning. The end result has been increased…

Smoke continues to drift under our inversion – an atmospheric ‘lid” that traps the smoke near the ground – creating an acrid smell and ribbon of haze in the skies over eastern Massachusetts.

Had to double check the radar – and even poke my head outside – to see if we actually had rain overnight. Sure enough, it was water (and not ash) falling from the sky.

Cooler temperatures are headed in for the weekend Temperatures will remain warm on Friday, in the mid to high 70s, while the brush fire danger and drought conditions remain high.

After two hard freezes in as many mornings, the pattern takes at turn in the coming days. I’m sure you can guess what’s in store. Since late September, we’ve had five different warmups followed by distinct cooldowns. What a ride it’s been! We’ll see how things shake out this month, but our hot/cold streak may be cut short after this…

Early sunsets after the switch to Standard Time never fail to surprise (and dismay). Many commuters will hit the road -- and return to homebase -- in the dark in the coming weeks.