BOSTON – A powerful storm system will cause devastation in Massachusetts on Wednesday, complete with heavy rain, localized flooding and damaging winds.

There are numerous dangers and warnings associated with this extremely anomalous storm system.

The Storms Prediction Center has classified areas south of the Mass Pike as having a “marginal” risk of severe thunderstorms.

How much rain will Massachusetts get?

The Weather Prediction Center believes there is a “marginal risk” of excessive rainfall for most of New England. We are forecasting 2 to 3 inches of rain for most of the area.

Strong wind warning

Finally, the National Weather Service issued a strong wind warning for the entire Eastern Massif on Wednesday afternoon and evening.

The strongest winds will be along the immediate coastline, including southeast of Mass. Southerly winds will peak between 45 and 60 mph in this area late Wednesday evening.

Further inland, between 128 and 495 and west through Worcester County, winds will gust between 35 and 50 mph Wednesday afternoon and evening.

Storm timeline for Boston

Scattered showers began to move in on Tuesday night, but there were no torrential rains.

We will see steady rainfall with some heavy downpours from Wednesday morning through the afternoon.

There may be a brief lull later on Wednesday afternoon and evening before the heaviest downpours move through between 6pm and midnight. This is when there is the greatest risk of flooding and wind damage.

Storm brings warmer weather

The temperatures will remain quite mild on Wednesday too. Highs will reach and approach the low and mid 60s across southern New England Records of all time.

Thursday will be a much calmer day and it looks like we could stay dry (and cool) all weekend.

Our next chance for showers would be very late Sunday or early next week.