Sunny, cool and gusty Tuesday, then warming to near 69 by Thursday

Expect a sunny, cool and gusty Tuesday, a chilly night, then a warming trend with sunshine into the upper 60s by Thursday, the National Weather Service says.

Evening update, 9 p.m.

The Weather Service's evening forecast for Gloucester, issued at 8:49 p.m.:

• Tonight: Clear, with a low around 40. West wind of 8 to 15 mph.
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 64. Southwest wind of 8 to 18 mph.
• Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 54. South wind of 15 to 18 mph.
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68 and a slight chance of showers after noon (20 percent).

On the water, the small craft advisory has ended. Tonight, northwest winds of 10 to 15 knots with gusts to 25 knots turn west at 5 to 10 knots after midnight, with seas of 2 to 3 feet. Wednesday, southwest winds of 5 to 10 knots turn south at 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon, with gusts to 25 knots and seas of 2 to 3 feet.

Wednesday's tides in Gloucester Harbor are unchanged: high at 9:16 a.m. and 9:37 p.m., low at 2:55 a.m. and 3:17 p.m.

The forecast

The National Weather Service in Norton expects the following in Gloucester, in its 1:56 a.m. update:

• Today: Sunny, with a high near 58. Northwest wind of 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
• Tonight: Clear, with a low around 42. West wind of 3 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
• Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 62. Southwest wind of 3 to 12 mph.
• Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. Southwest wind around 12 mph.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Southwest wind around 10 mph.
• Thursday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.

On the water

A small craft advisory is in effect for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay until 8 a.m. today.

Today, northwest winds of 15 to 20 knots turn west at 10 to 15 knots this afternoon, with gusts up to 30 knots and seas of 2 to 4 feet. Tonight, west winds of 5 to 10 knots and seas around 2 feet. Wednesday, southwest winds of 5 to 10 knots turn south at 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon, with gusts up to 20 knots. Thursday, southwest winds of 10 to 15 knots, with seas around 2 feet.

Tides

High tides in Gloucester Harbor, according to NOAA predictions:

• Tuesday: 8:15 a.m. (8.7 feet) and 8:36 p.m. (9.7 feet). Low tides at 1:54 a.m. and 2:14 p.m.
• Wednesday: 9:16 a.m. (9.1 feet) and 9:37 p.m. (9.8 feet). Low tides at 2:55 a.m. and 3:17 p.m.
• Thursday: 10:09 a.m. (9.6 feet) and 10:32 p.m. (9.8 feet). Low tides at 3:50 a.m. and 4:14 p.m.

Rockport's high tides come about a minute earlier than Gloucester Harbor's. In the Essex River, they come about 12 to 14 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. The state's drought task force meets Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Rockport still bans all outdoor water use, and its water committee meets Wednesday at 2 p.m. Why Rockport banned outdoor watering as the drought eased. Read the rules for each town.

Earlier coverage: Clear and breezy tonight, then a sunny, gusty, cooler Tuesday (Oct. 5), Monday's forecast.