The 22News Storm Team issued a Weather Alert for Friday afternoon and evening as strong or severe thunderstorms threatened western Massachusetts. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch was also in effect for the Berkshires through Friday night.
That warning lands on a day when heat and humidity were already part of the picture, and it answers the question many people were asking by midday: whether the rough weather would arrive before the evening ends. The alert is the immediate call to pay attention, especially for people in western Massachusetts who were heading into the storm window with unstable air overhead.
The setup changes fast after that. Overnight Friday, the sky was expected to clear and humidity was expected to lower, with Saturday morning temperatures in the 60s. By Saturday, nearly 100% sunshine, dry air and a dry breeze from the west were expected, with highs in the mid-80s to mid-90s and a mostly clear evening before temperatures slipped through the 80s and into the low 70s before 11 pm.
That sharp turn from storm risk to dry skies is what makes the forecast worth watching. The same stretch of weather that raised concern for strong thunderstorms on Friday was expected to give way to one of the brightest days of the week on Saturday, before showers and thunderstorms returned Sunday afternoon or evening. The 22News Storm Team said it would keep tracking the storms as they approached western Massachusetts, which is the part of the forecast that still needs the closest watch.
For now, the answer is simple: Friday carries the severe-weather risk, Saturday brings the break, and Sunday sets up the next round.
