Summer Will Extend Across Eastern U.S. Into Next Week

Tom Moore
Published: August 27,2016
This summer season has been particularly hot and humid across much of the eastern U.S. and the current weather pattern will allow these conditions to hold on for awhile.
Unlike many of the past few summers, we have seen prolonged periods of temperature and humidity levels that have been well above average.
In fact, many locations in the eastern U.S. have endured one of their warmest summer seasons on record thus far, according to the Southeast Regional Climate Center.
The map below indicates how this summer has ranked, so far, from June 1-Aug. 24. Many cities are seeing a top five warmest summer on record as indicated by the rankings on the map.
For example, a "1" indicates a location that has seen the warmest summer, so far, and a "2" is the second warmest, etc.

Locations and their rankings compared to their warmest summer on record (from June 1, 2016-August 24, 2016).
(Southeast Regional Climate Center)

Charleston, South Carolina, is experiencing it warmest summer on record, so far, and Atlanta is tied for its second warmest summer. Farther north, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are tied for their third warmest summer.

Extension of Summer Heat

Atmospheric conditions that have been responsible for this summer's heat and humidity are returning to the East, after a brief respite, and these conditions will continue through the weekend and into next week. One factor that will keep the heat from being too extreme is the time of year.
We have already passed the average peak high temperature (usually reached in late July or early August) and the climatological trend is moving slowly downward.
The sun angle in the sky is a bit lower and the days are a bit shorter than they were earlier in the month.
(MORE: 10-Day Forecast Maps)
Here are some forecast highs for Sunday-Tuesday across much of the eastern third of the nation. Humidity levels will likely make it feel 3 to 5 degrees warmer.

3-Day Forecast Highs

(CITIES: New York | Philadelphia | Washington, D.C. | Pittsburgh | Richmond, Virginia | Raleigh, North Carolina | Nashville, Tennessee | Atlanta | Charleston, South Carolina)

Setup For Heat and Humidity

Weekend Jet Stream Pattern

(MORE: Fall Outlook)
A ridge of high pressure aloft (bulge in the jet stream) has been a frequent visitor to the eastern U.S. this summer and it's making a comeback after a brief hiatus.
Under this dome of high pressure, air sinks and warms and it becomes difficult for clouds and precipitation to form.
Humidity levels will be moderately high, increasing the heat index.
This pattern will be in place through much of next week. The long-range pattern favors slightly above average temperatures in the East through September.
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