Published: July 28, 2015
Sizzling temperatures are set to grip opposite sides of the country at the same time as we close out July and enter August. While searing heat has been ongoing in parts of the southern Plains and the southern half of the Mississippi Valley the last few days, parts of the Northeast and Northwest regions will be sweating it out in the days ahead.
In the Northeast, highs in the 90s or upper 80s will be common into next week. Meanwhile, the heat could help clinch one of the hottest Julys on record for some Northwest cities.
Let's break down the forecast details on this summery weather pattern for both regions.
Northeast: Heat Wave Possible in Some Cities
Forecast Highs
While it appears Wednesday will be the hottest day overall for the Northeast, highs will stay a handful of degrees above average for mainly eastern sections of the region into early next week.
For the most part, this heat in the Northeast will not be record breaking, however the longevity of it will likely be greater than we've seen so far this summer in some cities.
(MORE: Daily Forecast Maps)
New York City is likely to see highs mainly in the low 90s into early next week. So far this year, the Big Apple has experienced five days with 90-degree heat, with just two of those days in the 90s occurring on consecutive days. A heat advisory has been issued through Thursday evening for the immediate New York City metro area for heat index values in the middle to upper 90s.
Highs in Hartford, Connecticut, and Albany, New York, will likely be in the low 90s or upper 80s through late week. Albany saw its second 90-degree day of 2015 on Tuesday, and will likely double that number by early next week.
Farther south, the Mid-Atlantic will sizzle through highs in the low to middle 90s into next week, including Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia. Washington, D.C. has already seen its fair share of 90s in 2015, with 30 days total through Tuesday. They will likely meet or exceed their annual average number of 90-degree days in the next week which is 36.
The greatest chance for a few record highs in the region will be on Wednesday. Concord, New Hampshire (95 degrees), Worcester, Massachusetts (94 degrees), and Allentown, Pennsylvania (96 degrees), will be within a couple of degrees of their daily record highs shown in parenthesis.
By early next week, some cities could meet the definition for a heat wave in the Northeast, which is generally defined as three or more days in a row with temperatures at or above 90 degrees.
Northwest: Clinching a Record Hot July?
Forecast Highs
A strong ridge of high pressure will build over the Northwest as the jet stream bulges northward to the Canadian border during the second half of this week. This will allow temperatures 5-20 degrees above average to take hold across parts of northern California, western Oregon and western Washington by Wednesday, spreading to portions of Idaho and Montana by Friday.
(MORE: Strange July Weather Pattern Brings Snow, Tornadoes)
It's a fitting end to what will be one of the hottest Julys on record in parts of the Northwest. Portland, Oregon, Pendleton, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, and Spokane, Washington, were all seeing their hottest July on record as of July 26, according to data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center.
Temperatures in the middle to upper 90s are forecast for the Portland, Oregon, area through Saturday. A heat advisory is in effect for Portland and other portions of the Willamette Valley Wednesday through Friday.
Seattle will likely see highs near 90 degrees Thursday through Saturday. The Emerald City averages just two days with 90-degree heat annually, but has already seen eight days so far in 2015.
For parts of central and eastern Washington, this round of hot temperatures probably won't be quite as intense as the late-June record-breaking heat wave. Yakima peaked at 108 degrees in that heat wave, setting a June record. This time around highs are forecast to be 100-105 degrees into early next week. Spokane hit 105 degrees in late-June, but should hold in the middle 90s to near 100 degrees Thursday through the weekend.
Farther south, Medford, Oregon, could approach 110 degrees Thursday and Friday. The high temperature has only reached 110 degrees there on nine occasions since 1911.
In Northern California, highs on Wednesday and Thursday are expected to be in the 110s in Redding, with middle 100s forecast in Sacramento.
For parts of Montana, this will be quite a change from the way the week started. For example, Missoula, Montana, saw rain with temperatures in the upper 40s and 50s on Monday afternoon. Highs could be in the low 90s there by Thursday and remain in the 90s into early next week.
High elevation areas that saw snow on Monday in the northern Rockies will also see significant temperature rises. Big Sky, Montana, could be near 80 degrees this weekend.
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