Northeast Warming Up but Storms Could Impact Outdoor

The Northeast is enjoying a warming trend; however, storms are looming on the horizon. Here is a look at the steamy forecast for the days ahead.

Rising Temperatures Will Support Stormy Conditions in the Northeast

A stark uptick in the mercury will fuel the development of severe thunderstorms across the northeastern U.S. The weather pattern is likely to usher in the warmest temperatures since last September for the region. The change will be welcome news for those wondering when summerlike conditions would finally hit.

It has been a chilly stretch of days for the last few weeks in this corner of the country. For example, temperatures fell as low as the 30s and 40s across some areas of the Northeast on Monday morning.

That will all change beginning on Wednesday as temperatures surge higher and higher. The region can expect widespread highs in the 80s on Wednesday through Friday. Major metropolitan areas such as Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City could see the mercury approach the 90-degree threshold on Thursday during the peak of the heat.

Rising humidity levels will make it feel even warmer. It could feel like the dog days of summer for some areas when the intense sunshine, lack of winds, and humidity are all factored into the equation. Forecasters are predicting that real feel readings will hover about 10 to 15 degrees over the actual temperatures. It is also important to recognize that you may not be as acclimated to the heat yet, making it vital to take the appropriate precautions when spending an extended amount of time outdoors.

The smoke from the wildfires burning in Canada will also continue to filter into parts of the U.S. over the next few days. This will create hazy skies throughout the region.

When to Expect the Severe Weather to Fire Up

The increase in temperatures will naturally lay the groundwork for the thunderstorm development. A front coming in from the western U.S. will deliver the threat of severe weather by Thursday afternoon in the Northeast. Potential impacts of this weather maker include high winds, hail, and heavy rain that produces flash flooding.

The line of storms is expected to erupt by Thursday afternoon and evening in a zone from Pennsylvania and up to Maine. More storms are in the forecast on Friday for a swath of land from the eastern Great Lakes and into the central Appalachians thanks to another frontal boundary coming from the Midwest.

The arrival of these storms will bring down the temperatures across the central Appalachians and through New England on Friday. You can expect the temperatures to range about 10 to 15 degrees lower during this time.

However, the heat will remain entrenched in areas to the south throughout the mid-Atlantic on Friday. This area will see the readings cool by the weekend by about 10 degrees. Forecasters are also warning that high humidity levels will continue to raise the chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the eastern U.S. this weekend.

Specific City Forecasts

Now let's take a look at a few specific city forecasts over the next few days. New York City will see sunny skies and a high of 84 degrees on Wednesday, climbing to near 90 degrees on Thursday. Temperatures will dip back into the low 80s on Friday with the chance of a stray rain shower or thunderstorm disrupting tourist activities.

The greatest chance of rain for the Big Apple looks to be on Saturday. Temperatures will hover in the mid 70s to start the weekend. Overnight lows will remain moderate in New York City during this stretch, bouncing around in the mid 60s to low 70s.

You will find a similar forecast in Washington, D.C. The nation's capital will experience consistent highs in the mid to upper 80s for the balance of the week. Clouds will build more on Thursday and Friday as the front arrives. Although Friday will bring a chance of stormy conditions, Saturday is shaping up to be the most unsettled day of the week.

The interior portions of the Northeast will see the greatest threat of storms on Friday. Places such as Pittsburgh will be under the gun for scattered storms that linger through the overnight hours. Temperatures will slip in the Steel City on Friday thanks to the cloud cover, topping out in the upper 70s. Overnight lows will hold steady in the mid 60s for the next few days.

It will also be a soggy Saturday in Pittsburgh with periodic rain showers. Temperatures will be slashed, struggling to climb out of the low 70s. Overnight lows will also trend cool with a forecast of readings in the upper 50s after the sun sets on Saturday.

Moving to the north, Boston is expecting the highest concentration of rain showers and storms to arrive just in time for the Friday evening commute. After approaching the 90-degree mark on Thursday for highs, temperatures will slip to 80 degrees for top readings on Friday.

Similar to the rest of the region, Boston is in store for a wet and cooler Saturday. The forecast for the first day of the weekend is calling for cloudy skies, scattered rain showers, and winds out of the south at 10 to 15 mph. Highs will max out at 70 degrees before falling to 60 degrees overnight.

The rain will arrive earlier in the eastern Great Lakes. Buffalo should be ready for the rain showers to pick up on Thursday afternoon and evening. After a drier morning on Friday, the moisture machine will pick up again later in the day. The rain is forecast to persist through Saturday morning in Buffalo.

The city at the edge of Lake Erie will see cooler temperatures when compared to the rest of the Northeast. Temperatures in Buffalo are expected to remain in the mid 70s for highs on Thursday and Friday before dropping further to the 70-degree barrier on Saturday. Wednesday will be the best day of the week for outdoor activities in Buffalo, with plentiful sunshine and highs expected to hit 80 degrees.

We will continue to keep tabs on the potential development of disruptive storms over the weekend for the Northeast.

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