Summerlike Temperatures Expected in East This Week

Linda Lam
Published: May 27,2015




 
Warmer and more humid conditions are expected in the Northeast and Southeast this last week of May, when everyone starts to think about summer.

The jet stream is sliding farther north as a ridge of high pressure expands in the East, allowing temperatures to rise. Along with warmer temperatures, the humidity is increasing as well, making it feel even more like the middle of summer. The rise in humidity will be courtesy of a southerly flow of air, which has spread into the Northeast causing dew points to climb into the 60s and near 70 degrees in some locations.
High temperatures are expected to be 10 to 20 degrees above average in the Northeast through Saturday. Temperatures will be closer to the average temperature in July, at times, in Boston and Raleigh, North Carolina .
The mercury will climb into the 80s in New York City, and Washington, D.C. may see highs in the 90s for a few days.
A few record highs are also possible. Wednesday, Concord, New Hampshire hit 92 degrees, just a degree shy of tying its daily record.

Northeast Forecast

Low temperatures will also be 10 to 20 degrees higher than we would normally see at this time of year through Sunday morning. Consequently, the cooldown that usually happens overnight will not materialize for many. Those without air conditioning may not see much relief when the sun goes down, with low temperatures in the 60s and 70s.
A few record warm low temperatures are even possible. On Thursday, new record warm lows are possible in Albany (68 degrees) and Binghamton, New York (63 degrees).
(MAPS: 10-Day Forecast)
If you are looking for some relief from the heat, the beaches may be the place to go.
Cape Cod and Long Island will see highs remain in the 60s and 70s. Highs along the Jersey Shore will be warmer, in the 70s and 80s, but will feel more pleasant than areas not that far inland where temperatures may soar into the upper 80s and even 90s at times next week.

Southeast Forecast

Parts of the Southeast will really feel the summer-like heat tick up a notch into the weekend. Charlotte and Raleigh will see temperatures above average late this week and into this weekend.
However, a cold front is expected to move through the Northeast this weekend ushering in cooler temperatures behind it by Sunday.
(MORE: Summer Outlook)
The Climate Prediction Center's 8- to 14-day outlook calls for a greater than 50 percent chance of above-average temperatures for the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, the Southeast, as well as parts of the Midwest. In fact, the temperature outlook from The Weather Channel Professional Division for June in the Northeast and Southeast indicate that warmer than normal conditions are expected.

Dry Conditions Worsening?

The latest drought monitor released May 21 added an area of moderate drought to the Northeast. The week of May 14 did not have any areas in the Northeast in moderate drought, but this week there is now 22.74 percent of the region in this category, including southern New England, Long Island, and parts of New York and eastern Pennsylvania.
In addition, 63.96 percent of the Northeast is abnormally dry. Parts of the Mid-Atlantic and interior Northeast are not in the same position as they have received average to above-average rainfall year-to-date.
(MAPS: Weekly Planner)
This seems odd, given the amount of snow New England saw this past winter, but the pattern has changed and it has been a dry spring. Here are a few cities year-to-date rainfall stats through May 21:

• Boston is almost 5 inches below average in precipitation or in other words they are missing about 30 percent of their expected precipitation (rain plus melted snow)
• Bangor, Maine, has received only 9.93 inches of precipitation, which is about 5.5 inches less than an average year or less than 65 percent of their average precipitation
• Providence, Rhode Island, is also more than 5.5 inches below average with only 13.77 inches of precipitation measured
• New York is over 4.5 inches lower than where they should be in terms of precipitation or more than 25 percent below their average precipitation

The setup that will bring the warm temperatures will not bring much in the way of rain to the Northeast, as the region will be under the influence of high pressure. However, scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms are expected at times, which may help to keep temperatures down a bit. Most areas will likely receive less than half an inch of rain through Friday, but northern New England and Upstate New York may see up to an inch and a half of rain.
MORE: 50 Places to See in Summer (PHOTOS)