Most of the weekend should feature some nice weather, thanks to Hurricane Ernesto.
An upper-level low over Atlantic Canada will lift back out tonight, with any lingering showers or thunderstorms ending this evening. High pressure then builds in for Friday and Saturday with drier weather, though smoke drifting down from Canadian wildfires will dim the sun at times. Another upper-level low will settle into the Great Lakes, with a surface low pressure and its associated cold front slowly making their way eastward over the next few days. Hurricane Ernesto will be heading north and then northeastward well east of the region this weekend, but it will act to slow down the front, keeping us on the dry side. Some clouds will move in ahead of it, but it looks like the shower and thunderstorm activity associated with the front will hold off until late Sunday. As the front moves in, showers and thunderstorms will become more widespread Sunday night and Monday before the front moves offshore later Monday.
As for Hurricane Ernesto, it has Bermuda in its crosshairs at the moment. As of 5pm, Ernesto was centered about 495 miles south-southwest of Bermuda, moving toward the north at 13 mph. Maximum sustained winds were near 85 mph. The forecast calls for Ernesto to strengthen a little more tonight and Friday while heading northward, passing very close to Bermuda Friday night and early Saturday as it slows down. Beyond that, it will start to turn more toward the northeast, gradually weakening as it loses its tropical characteristics this weekend while passing south of Atlantic Canada. It could bring some heavy rain and gusty winds to parts of Newfoundland, but the bigger impact it will have, except for what it does to Bermuda, will be the large swells it generates. Rough seas are likely this weekend, with large waves smashing into the East Coast from the Carolinas northward to Atlantic Canada, resulting in hazardous conditions at the beaches and a high risk for rip currents, as well as the threat for some coastal flooding near the time of high tide, as we are approaching the astronomical high tides for the month.
Thursday night: Showers and thunderstorms end this evening, partly to mostly cloudy overnight with areas of fog developing. Low 59-66.
Friday: A mix of sun and clouds, smoke from Canadian wildfires will dim the sun at times. High 77-84, coolest along the coast.
Friday night: Partly to mostly cloudy, patchy fog possible again. Low 60-67.
Saturday: Hazy sunshine and some afternoon clouds. High 77-84.
Saturday night: Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 62-69.
Sunday: More clouds than sun, some showers and thunderstorms may develop in the afternoon. High 75-82.
Sunday night: Cloudy with showers and thunderstorms becoming more likely. Low 62-69.
Monday: Plenty of clouds with more showers and thunderstorms. High 73-80.
Storm HQ 