Wednesday morning begins with areas of patchy fog again and increasing clouds across Boston and all of Southern New England as a system approaches from the south. Your commute will see some streaks of sunshine with temperatures in the mid- to upper 50s. Most of the region will see a dry day, but a couple of scattered light showers or sprinkles will loom, mainly from Boston and the Mass Pike to areas south throughout the day.

The afternoon will see highs reach near 70 degrees along the coast, thanks to an onshore breeze keeping the immediate coast a couple of degrees cooler. Inland areas will feel warmer temps in the mid-70s. Folks up north may actually see temperatures reach the upper 70s with more sunshine than clouds with high pressure lingering nearby.

In the evening, Greater Boston will see temperatures fall to the low 60s or upper 50s under mostly cloudy skies, while the shower or sprinkle chance continues.

The high pressure that was responsible for providing the dry and sunny start to the work week will shift to the east and allow for a coastal storm to come near Southern New England on Wednesday.

Some light pockets of drizzle or showers could occur as far north as the Mass. and Northern New England border, but most of the shower activity will stay south of the Pike. Precipitation will be light, and some areas may stay dry for the entire day. It might be best to pack the umbrella or wear a light rain jacket in the event you end up in a pocket of rain.

Northern New England will remain under the influence of high pressure and likely see more sunshine than clouds, setting up a great Wednesday with a low chance of an afternoon spot shower.

The air is still relatively dry, but the approaching coastal storm, albeit very weak, will increase dew points over the next couple of days. The air may become a little heavy, but you'll hardly notice the difference as dew points remain closer to 60 degrees.

Come Thursday, the coastal storm will veer out to sea, leaving us with a mostly dry Thursday across Boston and all of New England.

After a week of temperatures reaching seasonal or warmer highs, a shot of Arctic air will descend south into New England with high pressure, setting up a 10- to 15-degree temperature drop in daily highs from Friday into Saturday.

The good news? It should be very quiet and sunny on both Saturday and Sunday.

This will set up frosty mornings for some folks up north on Saturday morning with afternoon highs reaching the 60s.

Greater Boston: Turning mostly cloudy with patches of morning fog. A low chance for a drizzle or spot shower. Highs in the upper 60s along the North and South Shores, low 70s in the immediate city.

Southeastern Mass.: Seeing patches of morning fog with mostly cloudy skies. A chance for a spot sprinkle or two. Highs in the upper 60s and low 70s. Slight onshore breeze.

Central/Western Mass.: Increasing clouds in the morning with some patchy fog. A sliver of sun is possible during the day, but also a chance for a spot shower or drizzle. Berkshires reach the upper 60s to low 70s, while Springfield to Worcester end up closer to the mid-70s.

Cape and Islands: Seeing mostly cloudy skies to overcast. Some morning patchy fog. Highs to the upper 60s, a couple of readings of 70 or 71. Chance for a shower throughout the day.

Rhode Island: Mostly cloudy with patchy fog in the morning. Clouds stick around all day with a chance of a light shower or drizzle. Highs to the low 70s.

New Hampshire: Seeing a blend of sun and clouds with temperatures building to the low to mid-70s. Chance for a spot shower across Southern New Hampshire in the afternoon, but very isolated.

Vermont/Maine: Partly to mostly sunny with highs reaching the mid- to upper 70s for both states. Some clouds in the afternoon with a low chance for a brief sprinkle.

Chance of a brief shower Wednesday as storm system nears New England - The Boston Globe