Most of Northeast to See Return of Summer Heat and Storms

Despite the calendar reading the end of August, it will feel like more the peak of the summer season for the Northeast over the next few days. In addition to considerably hotter temperatures when compared to last week, the region will also be at the mercy of powerful thunderstorms through at least Wednesday. Here is a look at this volatile forecast.

Summer to Rear its Head Again in the Northeast

Some of the major cities in the Northeast will be dealing with peak summer heat through the middle of the week. The hottest conditions will extend from the western slopes of the Appalachians and across to the lower mid-Atlantic coastline. Cities in this zone include Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.

New England will be the one part of the northeastern U.S. that will escape the heat. An atmospheric roadblock set up to the south will block the hot temperatures from extending this far to the north. This corner of the country will instead be faced with blasts of cooler air dipping to the south from Canada.

Rather than the widespread highs in the 90s, New England will remain in the 70s and the low 80s for highs. However, real feel readings will trend a bit higher in the area from the eastern Great Lakes and the southeastern corner of New York.

The up and down pattern of the temperatures is paving the way for more rain showers and thunderstorms to fire up. The first round ignited on Monday, bringing periods of heavy rain and wind.

This pattern will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday for a large swath of land, including the Great Lakes region and into the central Appalachians. Some of the storms may creep as far as eastern New York and into central and southwestern Pennsylvania. A good portion of Ohio will also be under the gun for these storms by Wednesday. For instance, Columbus could see an errant rain shower or storm during the afternoon and evening hours as the mercury soars into the upper 90s for near record temperatures.

The threat of storms will not end mid-week. More rain showers and the possibility of thunderstorms are in the cards for the central Appalachians and throughout the mid-Atlantic by the end of the week. New England is expected to remain dry on Thursday and Friday, delivering a nice end to the month of August.

Specific Metro Area Forecasts