From 90s to 50s: Northeast Braces for Memorial Day Chill

Summer left as quickly as it arrived across the Northeast. The unseasonably cold weather is going to have some staying power in this corner of the country, persisting through the long weekend. Read on for what you need to know about when summer will be back in the picture.

Northeast Temperatures Crash After Record Heat

Forecasters are warning that it is going to feel more like the late fall than the start of summer across much of the Northeast and beyond. The cool weather will feel even more pronounced coming on the heels of record-setting heat. The sudden drop in temperatures should come as no surprise to residents of the East Coast, as it simply follows the ongoing trend of rapidly fluctuating temperatures over the last few months.

The roller coaster ride will persist through the holiday weekend. Highs that hit the 90s earlier in the week along the populated Interstate 95 corridor will top out in the 50s and 60s over the next few days. It could get even chillier over the weekend.

For instance, after soaring to 98 degrees on Tuesday, Philadelphia will hover in the 50s for highs on Saturday. The City of Brotherly Love will also be under the threat of rain and wind on this day, sending the real feel readings down into the 40s. To put this weather into context, these are conditions more typically seen over Thanksgiving rather than Memorial Day.

Nearby State College, Pennsylvania, has also been the target of extreme temperature fluctuations. The college town saw an all-time low high reading of 49 degrees on May 14. Just four days later, students at Penn State University enjoyed readings that hit the 90-degree threshold. The forecast for Saturday is calling for a high of just 48 degrees. Should this forecast become a reality, it would be the lowest ever high recorded on that date in history.

A strong cold front that pushed into the Northeast on Thursday is responsible for the dramatic drop in temperatures. The front is also bringing in the chance of rain and breezy conditions.