Summer heat to surge into northeastern US starting this weekend

Following days of dreary weather, warmer, sunnier conditions are poised to return to the Northeast this weekend through much of next week.

The jet stream, which is a high-speed river of air at the level where jets often cruise at, is expected to move northward, promising calmer, sunnier conditions.

Periods of prolonged sunshine combined with increasing humidity will make it feel warmer than it really is.

“After temperatures struggled to get out of the 60s in many areas for the last day or two, it will be a quick change to AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures that will be near 100 F at times early next week,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson.

“While humidity levels will be increasing and higher than they have been recently, this will not be an oppressively humid stretch of weather,” said Thompson.

Air conditioners will be needed as temperatures quickly rise to uncomfortable levels. This is a stark contrast from earlier in the week when cool and unsettled conditions ruled.

Most of the Northeast, particularly New England, has had a noticeably cool month thus far. Temperatures in Boston are running more than 5 degrees Fahrenheit below average for the month as of June 9.

Lack of sunshine has been to blame for much of the chilly weather, with many days turning out cloudy with varying degrees of rainfall.

Less than a third of the way through the month, Boston has already received nearly half of the average precipitation expected through June 30.

However, the weather pattern will change this weekend as warmer, drier weather arrives.

Temperature readings are forecast to reach their highest levels since mid-May, when many areas in the Northeast had the first heat wave of the year.

A high of 90 is projected for Chicago on Saturday. Ninety-degree heat will spread through Detroit, Columbus, Washington, D.C., New York City, and Boston on Sunday and into next week.

Highs in the upper 80s will be common across the northern reaches of New England beginning on Sunday.

"Temperatures will approach record levels from New York City to Washington, D.C., Monday and Tuesday,” Thompson said.

It will be important for anyone spending time outside to reapply sunscreen often, seek shade whenever possible and stay well hydrated.

Careful attention should be paid to pets, who also require extra water and access to shade or an air-conditioned area in hot weather.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski warns that beachgoers should be cautious about swimming, as ocean and lake water temperatures are still dangerously low.

“The waters along the New England coast, most of the Great Lakes and many streams are still too cold to enter,” Pydynowski said.

Water surface temperatures should increase through next week as the warmth and sunshine continue.

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