The weather forecast for New England calls for cooler weather with some gusts of wind

After a nearly week-long period of prevailing high pressure that kept New England sunny and warm and reached record to near-record warmth in late October, the weather pattern has shifted just enough to noticeably cooler conditions across the region.

New England saw an increasing number of days in October when temperatures reached or exceeded 70 degrees. For Boston, the monthly average is seven days. Yesterday was the eighth day this month that we hit 70, and we still have over a week to go. Although the record number of 70-degree days in October was 19 in 1947, seven of the last 10 October days in the city have been above normal.

But today a passing cold front will bring clouds again, more seasonal temperatures and a few brief showers here and there this morning. There is so much dry air in the atmosphere that most of the showers on the radar don't even make it to the surface, leaving much of the area dry and mostly cloudy on the way to work.

A few drops may remain on the Cape or coast as the front slows down as it hits the Atlantic. But by this afternoon, the new high pressure system will clear most of the cloud cover and bring more sun than clouds on the way home.

Morning clouds and scattered rain showers turn into a sunnier afternoon.Boston Globe

As one high-pressure area replaces another with a northwesterly flow, a gradual cooling of temperatures is expected over the next few days, as sufficient heat remains in the middle layers of the atmosphere and on the surface. You can see the cooler air present in the map below.

Cool air has gripped the region in the upper layers of the atmosphere. Cooler temperatures are expected through the weekend.Boston Globe

The new high-pressure bubble causes the thermometer readings to drop. Boston can expect temperatures to drop into the mid-60s – cooler but still above normal – while the further west and north you go, temperatures may fall into the upper 50s.

High temperatures today will only reach the mid-60s across much of southern New England.Boston Globe

As these systems battle for position, windy conditions will occur throughout the area. Winds of up to 15 miles per hour are possible, with some gusts stronger, particularly along the coast of southern New England. This will create additional challenges for the spread of wildfires in central Connecticut.

Winds will strengthen this afternoon, reaching about 15 mph in Boston and even higher on the Cape.Boston Globe

If there is any rainfall today, it will be minimal in terms of alleviating our parched soils and long-term drought conditions. Showers are possible again on Saturday, but all indications are that there will only be minor amounts of rain.

Southern New England: In the morning the sky will be partly to mostly cloudy with isolated patchy fog. A persistent shower or drizzle is possible during the journey. As the day progresses, more sunshine returns and temperatures rise to the low to mid 60s with a steady 10 to 15 mph breeze. In the evening temperatures drop to 30°C inland and 40°C on the coast.

Western fair: The sky will be partly to mostly sunny today, with a low chance of some rain. Temperatures will stall in the mid-50s in the Berkshires, with lows likely reaching the mid-60s in the Pioneers. A breeze develops but is not too disruptive and stays around 10 mph or less. Low to mid 30s at night.

Cape and Islands: The sky today will be partly to mostly cloudy at times. Scattered light showers or drizzle may continue into the early afternoon as highs only reach lows into the mid 60s. A 15 mph breeze is likely. Evening temperatures will remain mild in the mid 40s.

Northern New England: Cooler with a mix of sun and clouds with more sunshine in the afternoon. In the Northern Plains, temperatures will really stay in the low to mid 50s. Coastal Maine and New Hampshire may maintain low 60s, but this will depend on cloud cover. A morning shower or two in Maine means conditions will improve in the afternoon. Nighttime temperatures will drop to the low to mid 30s.