Some relief from the intense heat and humidity that has blanketed Massachusetts this week will arrive on Thursday.

But it will still be intensely humid, with showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Temperatures are likely to climb well into the 80s, with dewpoints in the 70s, thanks to a "positively tropical-feeling airmass," according to National Weather Service forecasters.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likeliest to hit in the afternoon. While the chances for widespread rainfall are low, any storms that do form could bring heavy downpours. Those downpours, in turn, could cause localized flooding, though the risk of floods is only marginal.

Drier air moves in Thursday night into Friday morning, bringing real relief from the heat and humidity. Temperatures along the

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