Long-Term Relief From Heat Not in Sight for Much of U.S.

A new report released last week by The Weather Company and Atmospheric G2 is shedding a little light on what to expect in the coming weeks as summer enters the back half and the fall season kicks off. Here is a look at what the long-range forecast for August, September, and October is indicating.

Summer is not going to go out with a whimper for much of the country. Despite how much you may be looking forward to cozy sweaters, football games, and pumpkin patches, the late summer heat is likely to linger into the early fall months.

The latest long-range forecast is calling for above average temperatures for those in the Great Basin, the Southwest, and the East Coast. Some portions of the Rockies, the Plains, and the Midwest will see the biggest departure from normal as the end of summer comes to a close.

While most of the U.S. will see temperatures trend slightly higher than usual in the coming weeks, the coastal areas of Southern California up through Oregon are the most likely to see readings come in just a bit below the norm for the back half of the summer. This will keep this part of the nation as one of the most comfortable places to vacation or spend time.

Long-Range August Outlook

Looking at August in detail, the Rockies and the northern Plains are forecast to see readings soar to levels that are much hotter than average for the eighth month of the year. This will be the hottest part of the U.S. when compared to seasonal averages. The general area from the Desert Southwest cutting up to the Great Lakes and over to the East Coast will experience temperatures that are also above average, however, not to the same degree as the Rockies and northern Plains states. This updated forecast is a bit of a change from the earlier models that indicated that the core of the heat would focus on the eastern half of the country.

As for the rest of the U.S., you can expect the Gulf Coast and Florida to see temperatures hover around average. While the bulk of the nation is dealing with the impacts of climate change in the form of record-breaking temperatures, this region will see a lid on the rising mercury thanks to the forecast of a highly charged hurricane season.