Temperatures Hitting Levels Well Over Average Out East

Another surge of heat is going to bring the mercury up over the century mark in some areas of the East in the coming days. The soaring temperatures will pair with an increase in humidity levels to make it feel even toastier. Here is what you can expect as the new work week gets started.

Heat Expands to the East Coast to Start the Week

Record highs that have been in place since the 1800s could be in danger of falling early this week in the eastern edge of the country. Forecasters are predicting that temperatures will climb well over the norm for the middle of July on Monday and Tuesday. You can expect readings to land at about 5 to 15 degrees over the historical average. While the heat is good news for those heading out to the beach or spending time at the pool, temperatures of this degree can also present their own set of dangers.

The forecast for the East Coast is similar to what the western U.S. has been dealing with in recent weeks. It was a hot end to the weekend nationwide with about 245 million Americans seeing the mercury top 90 degrees or higher. Of this humber, at least 30 million people saw temperatures in the triple digits.

Who should expect daily records to potentially fall? The mid-Atlantic will experience the core of the heat with North Carolina cities such as Charlotte and Raleigh possibly seeing new record highs as the temperatures bounce around near 100 degrees. Heading to the north, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore will also be under the gun for triple digit temperatures.

The major Northeast cities of Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston will top out in the 90s. With these readings in store for at least three days in a row, the region will likely meet the criteria of a heat wave. In addition to the high humidity levels, the strong July sunshine and the light winds will send the real feel readings even higher for a large portion of the eastern U.S.

For instance, the Southeast will be dealing with real feel readings between 105 and 110 degrees. These readings could eclipse 100 degrees in the Northeast.

The large cities up and down the East Coast will contend with the impacts of urban heating. The prevalence of concrete and payment in metropolitan areas translates to a greater absorption of the heat during the day, making it more difficult to find relief even after the sun goes down.

This is a good time to review strategies to beat the heat. If possible, try to remain in air-conditioned areas during the peak afternoon heating hours. Staying hydrated, limiting intake of alcoholic beverages, and avoiding strenuous activity outside can all help to mitigate the potentially dangerous impacts of the heat.