Showers likely Tuesday after a sunny Columbus Day, then a mostly sunny Wednesday near 69

Columbus Day ended sunny, and rain returns Tuesday, the National Weather Service says. Wednesday looks dry and mild.

The forecast

The National Weather Service in Norton expects the following in Gloucester, in its 2:04 p.m. update:

• Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with patchy fog, a chance of rain showers after 2 a.m. and a low around 50. North wind 5 to 14 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.
• Tuesday: Rain showers likely and patchy fog. Cloudy, with a high near 62. East wind around 13 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent. A tenth to a quarter of an inch of rain is possible.
• Tuesday night: Showers likely in the evening, with thunderstorms likely between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Patchy fog and a low around 57. Chance of rain 70 percent.
• Wednesday: Patchy fog before 9 a.m., then mostly sunny, with a high near 69. West wind 6 to 10 mph.
• Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

On the water

No marine advisories are posted for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay this evening. Tonight, northwest winds of 5 to 10 knots turn northeast at 15 to 20 knots after midnight, with seas of 2 to 4 feet and patchy fog. Tuesday, east winds of 15 to 20 knots turn southeast at 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon, with seas of 2 to 4 feet, patchy fog and showers likely in the afternoon. Tuesday night, south winds of 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Wednesday, west winds of 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots, easing in the afternoon, and seas of 2 to 3 feet. The forecast calls for stronger winds Friday night and Saturday, with northwest gusts up to 45 knots Saturday.

Tides

High tides in Gloucester Harbor, according to NOAA predictions:

• Tuesday: 1:29 a.m. (8.9 feet) and 1:36 p.m. (9.7 feet). Low tides at 7:23 a.m. and 7:55 p.m.
• Wednesday: 2:09 a.m. (8.5 feet) and 2:14 p.m. (9.4 feet). Low tides at 8:02 a.m. and 8:36 p.m.

Tonight's low tide in Gloucester Harbor is at 7:15 p.m. Rockport's tides come 2 to 4 minutes earlier than Gloucester Harbor's. In the Essex River, they come about 8 to 12 minutes later.

Rain and the drought

Tuesday's rain is forecast at a tenth to a quarter of an inch. The state's drought status page still lists Cape Ann's region at Level 2, Significant Drought, declared Oct. 9. Read what the drought level means.

Earlier coverage: Mostly cloudy Sunday, then a soaking rain tonight before a drier Columbus Day (Oct. 11), Sunday's forecast.