Bostonians may want to keep their umbrellas handy and their outdoor plans flexible this weekend, with showers and clouds dominating the forecast. As reported by the National Weather Service, today Boston can expect scattered showers mainly after 2pm, with chilly gusts reaching up to 21 mph and an 80% chance of precipitation; temperatures will top out near a brisk 43 degrees.

Heading into tonight, the chance of showers lingers at 60% before 9 pm, accompanied by patchy fog and cloudy skies, temperatures will dip to the low 30s with persistent north winds that could amp up to 23 mph gusts, so it might feel colder than it actually is, so it is best to dress warmly if you're heading out. Looking ahead to Sunday, the clouds are sticking around, however, the sun could make a brief appearance, pushing temperatures closer to the 50-degree mark, this is according to forecasts from National Weather Service and an analysis by NBC Boston, which adds that the wind chill factor from blustery breezes will again be in play.

Come Monday, the region will finally see some sunny respite from the gloomy weekend with the mercury creeping up to 60 degrees, a welcome change following days of dreary weather. Despite a partly cloudy Monday night, the rest of the week is expected to bring more sun, with sea breezes pulling temperatures back down slightly by mid-week.

The weather takes another turn later in the week as a significant storm system approaches, threatening to bring a solid drenching of rain, when earlier, there was hope for just a few showers, now, forecasters warn of potential downpours and gusty winds so keep that rain gear at hand and potentially reconsider any outdoor plans," as NBC Boston puts it, "Guess we should have known better." Friday is set to wrap up with more showers, along with breezy conditions and a high near 63—so if you're looking for a silver lining, at least it won't be cold rain.