Cool temps, scattered showers in Mass. as wildfire smoke lingers statewide

Chilly air, wildfire smoke and scattered showers will shroud Massachusetts Monday before more widespread rain comes later in the week.

While no air quality alerts were issued by the National Weather Service as of 6 a.m. on Monday, smoke from fires in Canada was still in the atmosphere statewide. Air quality alerts were issued for parts of New Hampshire near the border.

The air quality was at a “moderate” level and considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in parts of Eastern, Central and Western Massachusetts and on the Cape & the Islands as of 6 a.m., according to data from the DEP map. Those affected should take precautions in spending too long outside.

Temperatures were cool in the mid to upper 50s after sunrise on Monday morning. They’re expected to reach just the 60s and high 70s throughout the day, with the warmest areas in Western Massachusetts.

Under the overcast skies, there’s a chance for scattered showers statewide during the daytime and into Monday night, forecasters said.

This comes before more widespread, heavy rain and thunder move into the state on Tuesday. Forecasters are eyeing up to two inches of rain that could fall throughout the day on Tuesday and bring some street flooding.