Summer Making a Comeback in the Northeast as Temperatures Inch Upwards

Summer is making a comeback in the Northeast, ushering in warmer temperatures, higher humidity levels, and the chance of heavy rain to the region. Here is what you can expect heading into the last full weekend of August.

Heat Returns to the Northeast

After an unseasonably cool week, the temperatures are on the upswing across the Northeast. While not all of the region will see the summertime heat, most of the area will at least experience more humidity and the chance of rain. Forecasters are warning that some of the rain showers could be heavy at times.

A wave of heat is setting up over the Midwest this weekend, sending the mercury as much as 20 degrees higher than what the region saw earlier in the week. While some of this heat will creep into the Northeast, not all of the region will get in on the hotter temperatures. This is because a southward plunge in the jet stream across New England will prevent the heat from seeping into this corner of the country.

The dip in the jet stream will also work to raise the risk of rain showers and thunderstorms. The higher humidity levels can also be blamed on this atmospheric pattern.

Keep in mind that some areas of New England have been at the mercy of repeated downpours over the last several weeks. As a result, the already saturated ground will be more at risk of experiencing flash flooding. This threat will be the highest in low-lying areas and near small streams and other waterways that cannot hold any additional moisture.

For instance, it was just last week that parts of Connecticut were inundated with floodwaters as a small area of tropical moisture set up over southern New England. The good news is that there will be no tropical moisture associated with the upcoming weather pattern, helping to limit the amount of rain that falls.

Where the Temperatures Will Rise

While the cloud cover and rain will keep parts of New England reaching for cozy sweaters, it will be a different situation farther south and west. The temperatures will tick upwards first with the rising humidity levels right on its heels. The warmth will envelop a large region from the eastern portion of the Great Lakes, down into the central Appalachians, and across into the mid-Atlantic.

Residents will be faced with summertime warmth by early next week. The change in the conditions will feel even more dramatic when contrasted to the cool temperatures as of late. For example, much of the Northeast saw the mercury slip to readings more typical of the middle of the fall season over the last few days. Some locations even saw new record low temperatures as the temperatures plummeted overnight.

This will not be the case next week as temperatures climb back into the 80s and the low 90s. The climb in the temperatures will start on Friday and will continue through the weekend, reaching a plateau by Monday. Most of the central Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic can expect to see readings hover just above the historical average next week.

While most of the rain will remain to the north in New England, the forecast is predicting that some of the moisture is likely to dip to the south and into Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia at times next week. Do not rule out the threat of a few severe storms as a result of this unsettled pattern.

Beachgoers hoping to squeeze out a bit more summer fun before the unofficial end to the season on Labor Day weekend will find mostly pleasant conditions on the shore. The warmer temperatures will combine with less severe surf conditions and rip currents to deliver a better stretch of weather. However, you will want to keep an eye on the hourly forecast as errant rain showers or storms could disrupt some beach plans.

A cold front is expected to move through the country next week, eventually reaching the Northeast by the end of next week. This will translate into cooler temperatures for the long holiday weekend.