Heat, humidity relief for northeastern US to be short-lived

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

August 6,2016; 9:27PM,EDT

 

Relief from heat and humidity has returned to the northeastern United States, but will not last long into the new week.
After locally heavy thunderstorms rattle the Northeast to start the weekend, high pressure will build in on Sunday and provide many communities with two to three days of less humid, dry and seasonable weather.
"It will be a comfortable start to the new week across the Northeast," AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Spamer said. "Areas from Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., to Boston will be able to say goodbye to the humidity."
Aside from any brief and isolated shower in northern New England on Sunday afternoon, dry weather will span the Northeast on Sunday into Monday.

Residents and visitors will be able to leave umbrellas at home. Instead, be sure to apply sunscreen before spending a significant amount of time outside.
The weather will be good for outdoor activities and vacation plans, but drought-stricken lawns and crops will further dry out.
Temperatures will rise to or slightly above typical early August highs. However, the lack of high humidity will prevent AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures from soaring well past actual highs.
Low humidity and sunshine will hang on across the New York City area and New England on Tuesday, while the door once again opens for steamy air to make a comeback to the south.
RELATED:
AccuWeather Minutecast® for your area
2016 US fall forecast: Northeast to dodge season's chill
Northeastern US interactive radar
"Humidity will begin creeping back into the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic late on Tuesday," Spamer said.
While Tuesday evening will be perfect for baseball as the Red Sox and Mets open up a series between the New York Yankees in Boston and Arizona Diamondbacks in New York City, respectively, it will be a sticky evening in Washington, D.C., as the Nationals host the Cleveland Indians.
Amid the higher humidity on Tuesday, a couple of showers and thunderstorms will spread farther northward across the central Appalachians toward Pittsburgh.
"By Wednesday, dew points will be back in the mid- to upper 60s across the Northeast, making it feel very much like late summer again," Spamer said.
Heat will also surge back in, causing temperatures to approach or crack the 90-degree mark in many communities on Thursday.
RealFeels peaking at or near 100 F will be common across the mid-Atlantic and potentially into parts of southern New England due to the combination of the heat and humidity.
Those engaging in strenuous activities will once again have to take the necessary precautions (drinking plenty of water, taking frequent breaks) to avoid suffering from a heat-related illness.

The return of heat and humidity is likely not be as short-lived as the comfortable stretch starting the week.
A cold front will attempt to trim the humidity in New England later this week, but odds favor it struggling to do so or bringing only a brief reprieve.
Steamy air should otherwise hang on across the Northeast into next weekend and may interact with another frontal boundary to bring an increase in drenching thunderstorms for the middle of August.
Whether the risk of flash flooding elevates above isolated events will depend on the speed of the front and if tropical moisture gets drawn northward.