From drought to deluge: Incoming rain may cause flooding.
With the Housatonic and other Berkshire rivers and streams running fast and approaching bankfull, the National Weather Service predicts that torrential downpours on Thursday and Friday could spur minor to moderate flooding in some areas.
The government agency’s posted flood watch for the entire region is up until Saturday morning.
The approaching storm is expected to dump up to two inches of rain on ground already saturated from snow melt and Tuesday’s rainfall, which totaled just over an inch at Pittsfield Municipal Airport.
According to the National Weather Service, the rainfall combined with additional runoff from the recent snow melt will cause many rivers in the region to reach or exceed flood stage.
An intensifying storm over the Ohio Valley late Wednesday was heading toward upstate New York and western New England.
Thunderstorms are possible, especially south of the Mass Pike.
Rainfall should taper off late Friday, with occasional showers after sunset.
The payoff early next week will be a stretch of real spring weather, with sunny skies and temperatures well above normal, likely into the 60s by Monday and even the 70s on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the moderate to severe drought that afflicted Berkshire County and the rest of Massachusetts since last spring has eased quickly, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.