Summer-like temperatures expected in East this week

Updated
Feels More Like July 4th Than Memorial Day in East
Feels More Like July 4th Than Memorial Day in East


By Linda Lam, Weather Channel

Warmer and more humid conditions are expected in the Northeast and Southeast just in time for Memorial Day, when everyone starts to think about summer.

In the week ahead, the jet stream will slide farther north as a ridge of high pressure expands in the East, allowing temperatures to rise. Along with warmer temperatures, the humidity will increase as well, making it feel even more like the middle of summer. The rise in humidity will be courtesy of a southerly flow of air, which will spread into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast and cause dew points to climb into the 60s by midweek.

After a chilly start to the day Saturday, as lows dropped into the 30s and 40s, the warming trend will begin. High temperatures are expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above average in the East beginning on Memorial Day and lasting through the week.

Temperatures will be closer to the average temperature in July in Boston and Raleigh, North Carolina for much of the week.

(More: Memorial Day Weekend Forecast)

The mercury will climb into the upper 80s in New York City, and Washington, D.C. may see highs in the 90s for a few days. A heat wave may be in store for a few cities, especially in the Mid-Atlantic.

A few record highs are possible, especially early in the week. On Monday, Charleston, West Virginia, (current record is in parenthesis, 92 degrees) and Rochester, New York (88 degrees) may set new record highs. On Tuesday, Baltimore (94 degrees) and Richmond, Virginia (94 degrees) will be close to setting new record highs. On Wednesday, Hartford, Connecticut (91 degrees) and Allentown, Pennsylvania (91 degrees) may also reach record territory.

Low temperatures will also be 10 to 20 degrees higher than we would normally see at this time of year. Consequently, the cooldown that usually happens overnight will not materialize for many. Those without air conditioning will not see relief when the sun goes down, with low temperatures in the 60s and 70s.

A few record warm low temperatures are even possible. Burlington, Vermont (66 degrees) and Philadelphia (72 degrees) could see new record warm lows Wednesday morning and on Thursday new record warm lows are possible in Albany (68 degrees) and Binghamton, New York (63 degrees).

(MAPS: 10-Day Forecast)

If you are looking for some relief from the heat, the beaches may be the place to go. Cape Cod and Long Island will see highs remain in the 60s and 70s. Highs along the Jersey Shore will be warmer, in the 70s and 80s, but will feel more pleasant than areas not that far inland where temperatures may soar into the upper 80s and even 90s at times next week.

The summer-like temperatures will last through the week for most locations and may even last until the first week of June, especially in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Parts of the Southeast will really feel the summer-like heat kick in at the end of the week. Atlanta may begin a several day stretch of 90-degree temperatures beginning by Saturday, while Charlotte, North Carolina, is expected to begin their stretch of 90s next weekend.

(MORE: Summer Outlook)

The Climate Prediction Center's 8- to 14-day outlook calls for a greater than 50 percent chance of above-average temperatures for southern New England, the Mid-Atlantic and much of the Southeast. In fact, the temperature outlook from The Weather Channel Professional Division for June in the Northeast and Southeast indicate that warmer than normal conditions are expected.

Dry Conditions Worsening?

The latest drought monitor released May 21 added an area of moderate drought to the Northeast. The week of May 14 did not have any areas in the Northeast in moderate drought, but this week there is now 22.74 percent of the region in this category, including southern New England, Long Island, and parts of New York and eastern Pennsylvania.

In addition, 63.96 percent of the Northeast is abnormally dry. Parts of the Mid-Atlantic and interior Northeast are not in the same position as they have received average to above-average rainfall year-to-date.

(MAPS: Weekly Planner)

This seems odd, given the amount of snow New England saw this past winter, but the pattern has changed and it has been a dry spring. Here are a few cities year-to-date rainfall stats through May 21:

Boston is almost 4.5 inches below average in rainfall or in other words they are missing about a quarter of their expected rain
Bangor, Maine, has received only 9.66 inches of rain, which is more than 5.25 inches less than an average year or less than 65 percent of their average rainfall
Providence, Rhode Island, is also more than 5 inches below average with only 13.77 inches of rainfall measured
New York is more than 4 inches lower than where they should be in terms of rainfall or about 20 percent below their expected rainfall

The setup that will bring the warm temperatures will not bring much in the way of rain to the Northeast, as the region will be under the influence of high pressure. Most areas will likely receive less than a quarter of an inch of rain through Friday. But northern New England and Upstate New York may see up to an inch and a half of rain.


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