Warm Friday with a chance of evening showers, then a crisp, sunny weekend on Cape Ann

Friday looks like the last summery day for a while on Cape Ann. The National Weather Service expects a high near 74 before a chance of showers late in the day, then a sunny, cooler weekend.

The forecast

The National Weather Service in Norton expects the following in Gloucester:

• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 74 and a southwest wind of 9 to 13 mph. A slight chance of showers after 5 p.m., with a 50% chance overall.
• Friday night: A chance of showers before midnight, 40%, with less than a tenth of an inch of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56.
• Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 62 and a light northeast wind. Mostly clear Saturday night, low around 53.
• Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60 and an east wind around 8 mph. A slight chance of showers Sunday night.
• Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.

Those evening showers could reach Friday night football. Manchester Essex plays Amesbury at 6:30 p.m., and Winthrop visits Gloucester at 7 p.m.

On the water

The marine forecast for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay calls for southwest winds of 10 to 15 knots Friday, with gusts up to 20 knots and seas of 2 to 3 feet. Winds turn north and then northeast Saturday at 5 to 10 knots, with seas around 2 feet. Northwest winds pick up Monday and Tuesday, at 15 to 20 knots with gusts to 25.

Tides

High tides in Gloucester Harbor, according to NOAA predictions:

• Friday: 3:49 a.m. (8.8 feet) and 4:05 p.m. (10.2 feet). Low tides at 9:48 a.m. and 10:36 p.m.
• Saturday: 4:51 a.m. (8.5 feet) and 5:09 p.m. (9.9 feet). Low tides at 10:48 a.m. and 11:40 p.m.
• Sunday: 5:58 a.m. (8.3 feet) and 6:18 p.m. (9.7 feet). Low tide at 11:55 a.m.

Rockport's high tides come a few minutes earlier than Gloucester Harbor's. In the Essex River, they come about four to 12 minutes later.

Still a mild drought

The state's most recent drought declaration, from Sept. 10, keeps the Northeast region, which includes Cape Ann, at Level 1, a mild drought. No newer declaration had been posted as of Friday morning. Rockport still bans all outdoor water use. Read the rules for each town. (Why Rockport banned outdoor watering as the drought eased.)