What Parts of the U.S. Will See Record-Challenging Highs and Where Will Rain Mitigate the Heat?

The warmest temperatures of the year so far are bearing down on the eastern U.S. Heat generally seen during the summer is on the way for some of the most populous cities on the East Coast. However, the threat of rain and stormy conditions will keep the mercury suppressed in other parts of this region. Read on for a look at who should expect the hot weather this week.

Record-Challenging Heat on Deck for the Eastern U.S. This Week

A mid-April heat wave is going to spread to the east this week, sending millions of Americans reaching to turn on the air conditioner for the first time this season. A large zone of high pressure anchored off the coastline of the Carolinas is pushing hot air across the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast, continuing the warming trend that began this weekend.

Plentiful sunshine will encourage higher temperatures through the middle of the week. You can expect readings to soar into the 80s for much of the Ohio Valley to the Atlantic seaboard on Tuesday. Both Philadelphia and New York City are forecast to see highs well above what is generally seen this early in the spring season.

The peak of the unseasonable heat for most of the Northeast will be on Wednesday afternoon. Readings could hit as much as 20 to 30 degrees over the historical average for the middle of April. Instead, it will feel more like late May or June for the major metro areas in the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic.