Winds will die down; Friday to start sunny, end in showers

By Lauren Dezenski, Globe Correspondent

Though Wednesday night’s winds are mostly dying down, areas near the South Shore will feel brisk winds near 20 miles per hour throughout the day, with higher speeds closer to the coast, the National Weather Service said.

Between 2 and 6 a.m. today, winds were observed in excess of 30 miles per hour in Boston, 40 miles per hour in Lawrence, and 50 miles per hour at the Blue Hills Meteorological Observatory in Milton, National Weather Service meteorologist Charlie Foley said.

This prompted officials to issue a special weather statement, warning of “strong to possibly damaging gusty winds.” The statement expired at 9 a.m.

“This is really the only weather event of note,” Foley said, as high pressure situates over the state, keeping skies clear, temperatures in the low 40s for the rest of the day, and winds in most places remaining near 15 miles per hour.

Foley said today’s winds will mainly affect fishermen just off shore, where 30-mile-per-hour winds will be “robust.”

Forecasters say Friday will start off mostly sunny, with temperatures climbing into the 40s, but become mostly cloudy as high pressure moves off to the east. Showers are expected late in the day ahead of a warm front. Milder air behind the front is expected for the weekend, while a cold front will swing through Monday, bringing colder, more seasonable air midweek.

Lauren Dezenski can be reached at lauren.dezenski@globe.com