Weather

What Boston forecasters are saying about the timing and impacts of Wednesday’s thunderstorms

"Damaging wind gusts, large hail, and locally heavy downpours are the main threats."

Jessica Rinaldi / The Boston Globe, File

By Arianna MacNeill

Scattered strong to severe thunderstorms are expected to rumble through the region Wednesday afternoon and evening, and with them could come “damaging wind gusts, large hail, and locally heavy downpours,” according to the National Weather Service.

Areas south of the Mass. Pike have the greatest risk for the storms, but almost all of Massachusetts has a chance for them, the service said. The storms are expected between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The storms “should be more numerous” in eastern Massachusetts, including on the Cape and Islands, plus in Connecticut and Rhode Island, the service said. Wind gusts could hit 60 mph.

Here’s what other local meteorologists are saying about the storms:

Cindy Fitzgibbon, WCVB: ‘Downpours and lightning could slow the PM commute in some areas’

Zack Green, WBZ: ‘Power outages possible as storms produce 40-60mph gusts’

Shiri Spear, Boston 25 News: ‘Watching for afternoon storms across #NewEngland, most plentiful south of the Mass Pike’

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