Residents across Massachusetts should brace for a brief weather event this weekend, beginning with a period of rain Saturday night followed by strong statewide westerly winds on Sunday.

The quick-moving storm system is set to spread from west to east across the state between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service . The warm front will drive approximately six hours of moderate-to-heavy rain with rainfall totals projected to be around half an inch by Sunday morning.

The Boston and Norton areas have issued a gale watch for coastal waters from Sunday morning through Monday evening, with wind gusts expected to reach 40 mph to 45 mph over marine areas.

Though no land-based warnings were in effect as of 4 p.m. Saturday, strong westerly winds are expected to

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