Heat, humidity to return across northeastern US late this week

By Michael Doll, Meteorologist

August 23,2016; 11:20PM,EDT

 

 

Following a fall-like start to the week, warmth and humidity will build over the northeastern United States prior to the weekend.
There will be a bit of a chill in the air at night across interior New England and in the central Appalachians with temperatures dropping into the 40s and lower 50s F in some areas. Temperatures this low are more typical of mid-September.
The cool conditions, like everything else with the weather, will be temporary.

The humidity will build and temperatures will trend upward to above-average levels as a southerly flow of air returns during the second half of the week, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Rinde.
Average high temperatures range from the upper 70s in Boston to the middle 80s in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., during late August.
The late-week weather pattern will be a reminder that summer is far from over.
High temperatures will likely crack 90 in Baltimore , Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia on or before Friday. Humidity levels will slowly trend upward Wednesday through Friday. AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will be above 100 for several hours during the weekend.

In the area from New York City to Boston and Portland, Maine, temperatures at the end of the week will climb well into the 80s and could touch 90 in some communities. RealFeels® will range between 95 and 100 during the afternoons.
"The building heat and humidity with light winds will bring a decline in air quality and make vigorous physical activity a challenge once again," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
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"However, the conditions should not be as bad for people with respiratory and cardiac problems as that of the middle of August," Sosnowski said.
The steamy air will bring an opportunity for some late-season swimming or a visit to the beach.
Rain-free weather is expected through midweek across the Northeast before a system moves into the region late in the week. Pittsburgh; Buffalo and Syracuse, New York, may have a shower or thunderstorm on Thursday.
Additional showers and thunderstorms will spread into interior sections of the Northeast on Friday, but they may stop short of big cities along the I-95 corridor.