Mostly cloudy Sunday, then a soaking rain tonight before a drier Columbus Day

Clouds hang around Sunday, and rain moves in tonight, the National Weather Service says. Most of it should be gone by Columbus Day morning, which turns partly sunny.

The forecast

The National Weather Service in Norton expects the following in Gloucester, in its 2:17 a.m. update:

• Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. South wind of 2 to 9 mph.
• Tonight: A chance of rain showers before 8 p.m., then rain showers and patchy fog, with a low around 51. Chance of rain 100 percent. A half to three quarters of an inch of rain is possible.
• Columbus Day: A chance of showers and patchy fog early, ending by 10 a.m., then partly sunny, with a high near 63. North wind of 2 to 9 mph.
• Monday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 50.
• Tuesday: A chance of rain showers after 8 a.m., mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Chance of rain 40 percent.
• Tuesday night: Showers and thunderstorms, with a low around 54. Chance of rain 80 percent.

On the water

No marine advisories are posted for Massachusetts Bay and Ipswich Bay this morning. Today, south winds of 5 to 10 knots and seas of a foot or less, building to around 2 feet this afternoon. Tonight, winds turn northeast at 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 25 knots after midnight, with showers, patchy fog and visibility of 1 to 3 nautical miles. Monday, north winds of 10 to 15 knots and seas of 2 to 3 feet, with patchy morning fog. Tuesday, east winds of 10 to 15 knots turning southeast, seas of 2 to 4 feet and a chance of afternoon showers.

Tides

High tides in Gloucester Harbor, according to NOAA predictions:

• Sunday: 12:07 a.m. (9.5 feet) and 12:20 p.m. (10 feet). Low tides at 6:05 a.m. and 6:34 p.m.
• Columbus Day: 12:49 a.m. (9.2 feet) and 12:58 p.m. (9.9 feet). Low tides at 6:44 a.m. and 7:15 p.m.
• 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.

Rockport's high tides come about 2 minutes earlier than Gloucester Harbor's. In the Essex River, they come about 10 to 13 minutes later.

Rain and the drought

Tonight's rain is the only rain total the forecast gives this week. The state moved Cape Ann's region to a Level 2 drought on Oct. 9, and Rockport's total ban on outdoor water use is still posted on the town's website. Read what the drought level means.

Earlier coverage: Sunny and cool Saturday, then rain Sunday night into Columbus Day morning (Oct. 10), Saturday's forecast.