Gray with a few showers Tuesday, then sunny and near 71 Wednesday

Tuesday stays gray and damp, with the best chance of showers this afternoon and tonight, the National Weather Service says. Wednesday brings sun and the warmest afternoon of the week.

The forecast

The National Weather Service in Norton expects the following in Gloucester, in its 4:43 a.m. update:

• Tuesday: Patchy fog and a slight chance of showers before 10 a.m., then a chance of showers and patchy fog. Cloudy, with a high near 58. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.
• Tuesday night: Showers likely and patchy fog before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South wind 12 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71. West wind 7 to 13 mph.
• Wednesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 51.
• Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 58. North wind 5 to 13 mph.

Each of the two rainy periods could bring a tenth to a quarter of an inch.

On the water

No marine advisories are posted for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay this morning. Today, east winds of 10 to 15 knots turn southeast this afternoon, with gusts up to 20 knots, seas of 2 to 4 feet and a chance of showers. Tonight, south winds of 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots and patchy fog. Wednesday, west winds of 10 to 15 knots and seas of 2 to 3 feet. Northwest gusts reach 25 knots late Wednesday night and Thursday. The forecast calls for west winds of 25 to 30 knots late Friday, then northwest winds of 25 to 30 knots with gusts up to 40 knots Saturday, with seas of 3 to 5 feet.

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.

Rockport's tides come 2 to 4 minutes earlier than Gloucester Harbor's. In the Essex River, they come about 8 to 28 minutes later.

Rain and the drought

The state's drought status page still lists Cape Ann's region at Level 2, Significant Drought, declared Oct. 9, and Rockport's total ban on outdoor watering is still in place. Read what the drought level means, and see this week's Rockport reservoir reading.

Earlier coverage: Showers likely Tuesday after a sunny Columbus Day, then a mostly sunny Wednesday near 69 (Oct. 12), Monday's forecast.