Cooler Air on Tap for the Northeast but Not Before More Heat & Storms

There is relief from the heat on the way for the Northeast. However, before the relief arrives, the region will be dealing with the threat of soaring humidity levels and flooding rainfall. Here is a deeper look at what this corner of the country should expect this week.

Brief Break from the Heat Did Not Last Long for the Northeast

The weekend brought a short reprieve from the extreme heat across the Northeast. Unfortunately, the week started with another uptick of temperatures and humidity that are expected to continue until the next mass of cooler air arrives over the weekend.

A northward bulge in the jet stream is bringing up hot and humid air from the south and sending it spilling across the Northeast. The bulk of the region should prepare for temperatures that hover well over the norm for the end of July. The Interstate 95 corridor will be particularly toasty with highs expected to challenge daily record highs in several of the populated cities.

When combined with the climbing humidity levels, real feel readings will likely eclipse the century mark during the peak afternoon heating hours. Forecasters are also warning that warmer-than-average overnight lows will amplify the overall miserable conditions.

How warm will it get in the next few days? Washington, D.C. will see the peak of the heat on Tuesday and Wednesday with highs expected to bounce around in the mid to upper 90s.

Philadelphia could see readings hit the triple digits on Tuesday afternoon. Wednesday's forecast is calling for a high of about 98 degrees under plentiful amounts of sunshine. It will be a bit breezy in the largest metro area in Pennsylvania with winds out of the southwest at 10 to 15 mph.

When to Expect the Threat of Storms in the Northeast

The risk of severe storms that usher in flash flooding will return to the Northeast by the middle of the week. The same frontal boundary that is supporting the development of storms across the Plains and the Midwest to start the week will track to the east by Wednesday. This movement will bring a surge of moisture to the Northeast, laying the groundwork for thunderstorms by Wednesday afternoon and evening.

This weather maker produced a derecho in the overnight hours of Monday and into Tuesday across parts of South Dakota and Iowa. The long-lived storm got its start as a cluster of activity in Montana on Monday, picking up steam as it moved to the east. Several weather stations reported wind gusts of over 80 mph as the derecho carved through a large swath of the Plains. The highest reported gust generated by this storm as of Tuesday morning was 99 mph, recorded to the south of Sioux Center, Iowa.

Flash flooding is the biggest danger associated with this weather pattern when it reaches the Northeast. The heavy rain will also increase the chances of ponding on roadways, as well as reduced visibility. Other potential impacts include frequent lightning strikes and locally damaging winds.

Going back to Washington, D.C., storms will arrive in this part of the region by Thursday afternoon and evening. The building clouds will bring the mercury down about 10 degrees from Tuesday's top readings, maxing out in the upper 80s on this day.

It could be a rocky evening of weather for Philadelphia on Thursday with widespread storms on deck. The rain will persist into the morning hours on Friday with another round of storms a possibility by the evening hours.

New York City will also be under the gun for afternoon and evening thunderstorms on Thursday. The Big Apple is expecting the weather to improve by the latter part of the day on Friday.

The chances of flooding will increase as the week progresses and the front dips farther to the south. An influx of tropical moisture coming up from the Gulf and the Atlantic will translate to more persistent precipitation in a zone from Tennessee and up into southern New England. Residents in this area should prepare for rainfall amounts as high as 4 inches by the end of the week.

The only silver lining of the recent deadly flood events across the U.S. is that more people are aware of the risks that come along with rain of this magnitude. Be sure to enable all smartphone alerts before going to bed, as many of these tragic events happen under the cover of darkness.

Cooler Temperatures Headed to the Northeast by the End of the Week

There is light at the end of the tunnel following the hot and stormy week. Forecasters are offering hope that tempeatures will begin to plummet beginning on Friday and heading into the weekend. The latest forecast models indicate that the mercury will land below the historical average for the beginning of August.

What does this mean for actual air temperatures? Washington, D.C. is forecast to top out with highs in the mid 70s by Friday. To put that into context, the historical average for the first day of August in the nation's capital hovers in the upper 80s. Scattered rain showers could disrupt outdoor plans on the National Mall on Friday morning before drier conditions arrive on Saturday.

You will find a similar situation up Interstate 95 in Philadelphia. The average high for early August in the City of Brotherly Love is 87 degrees.

It will be a lovely weekend for tourists visiting New York City. The forecast is calling for highs in the low 80s under mostly sunny skies. With the heat and humidity that is common this time of summer in the Northeast, this is shaping up to be a great weekend.

Temperatures will not be the only weather element in a free fall. Humidity levels are also expected to slip by the end of the week. All of this will lead to more pleasant conditions for outdoor activities for the first weekend of August.

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