Heat, humidity to ramp up across northeastern US over Father’s Day weekend

Hot and muggy air will return with a vengeance across the northeastern United States through Father’s Day weekend.

After temperature and humidity levels returned to more seasonable levels to end the workweek, warm and muggy conditions will build over the weekend, according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Ryan Adamson.

Air conditioners and fans will need to be used in full force once again following the relatively cooler conditions to end the past week.

The climbing temperatures and humidity levels, which will be more typical of mid-July, will put additional strain on those who are laboring outdoors or do not have air conditioning.

The heat and humidity will peak on Sunday as many head outdoors to fire up the barbecue, play a game of golf or go fishing for Father’s Day.

Plenty of water will be needed in order to stay hydrated. The combination of heat and high humidity makes it more difficult for the body to cool down.

“Residents will still need to limit their exertion during the heat of the day,” Adamson said.

Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, are among the cities that will hit the 90-degree mark. Highs in the middle to upper 80s will be common elsewhere across interior areas away from the coast.

Near the coast, especially from Long Island to Maine, temperatures will be 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit lower.

Ocean temperatures currently range from the upper 60s F around the Delmarva Peninsula to the upper 40s along the northeast coast of Maine.

Anyone heading to the beaches should use extreme caution due to an elevated risk of rip currents from Long Island to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Only swim if lifeguards are present.

Two teenagers drowned off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey, after being caught up in a strong rip current, according to ABC News. The lifeguards at the beach were off duty at the time.

Given the abundance of moisture in the air, dense fog could develop during the overnight hours and drastically reduce visibility.

Some residents partaking in warm-weather activities will have to dodge hit-or-miss thunderstorms that typically pop up in this type of weather pattern.

"Since steering winds will be very light and the atmosphere tropical over the region, any thunderstorm that occurs will have the potential to unload torrential downpours and cause flash flooding," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

On Sunday, a concentrated and vigorous line of thunderstorms threatens to create more hazards than just frequent lightning and sudden downpours.

“This heat and humidity will foster strong storms along a cold front by Sunday afternoon and evening for the interior Northeast,” Adamson said.

Damaging winds that cause power outages and tree damage will be the most widespread hazards.

“Showers and thunderstorms are most likely along the I-95 corridor on Monday afternoon and Monday night,” Adamson said.

Drier air will be ushered in behind the storms on Tuesday.

Heat and humidity levels comparable to this weekend may not return until the last weekend and week of June.

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