Record Highs in Jeopardy in Heat-Weary Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Through Saturday

Brian Donegan
Published: September 10,2016
After one of the hottest summers on record, another prolonged spell of heat will flirt with daily records in the Northeast through Saturday.
(MORE: Where Summer 2016 Was the Hottest on Record)
Not only will highs climb into the 90s, but the humidity will make it feel even more unbearable with heat index values topping 100 degrees in some cities.

Current "Feels Like" Temperature

Record or Near-Record Heat in the Northeast

The heat will slowly begin to diminish late Saturday as a cold front pushes through the region from west to east. Until then, another hot, humid day is in store for many on Saturday.
The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories from Delaware and parts of Maryland's Eastern Shore to eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey, as heat indices are forecast to be as high as 105 degrees.

Current Heat Alerts

Some of these high temperatures will approach daily record levels.
(MAPS: 10-Day Forecast Highs/Lows)

Forecast Highs

There won't be much relief from the heat at night. Low temperatures will generally hold in the 70s again Sunday morning.
Friday morning, Philadelphia's low dipped only to 80 degrees. The city's all-time warmest daily low temperature in September is 78 degrees on September 11, 1931.
(MORE: Urban Heat Islands: Why Cities are Warmer than Rural Areas)

Setup for this Late Summer Heat

A large ridge of high pressure (bulge in the jet stream) has taken hold of the Northeast. This has caused a quick increase in temperatures and dew points.
(MORE: Record Streak for Oppressive Humidity Set at New York's JFK Airport)
Dew points will exceed 70 degrees at times through Saturday, and when combined with temperatures in the 90s, some places could see heat indices over 100 degrees.

When Will Relief Arrive?

A cold front will finally sweep the excessive heat and humidity away from the Northeast late Saturday into Sunday, ushering in highs in the 70s and 80s.
Even highs in the 80s won't feel as oppressive along the I-95 corridor with dew points in the pleasant 40s and 50s, rather than the oppressively muggy 70s.
(FORECAST: Boston | New York | Philadelphia | Washington D.C. | Pittsburgh | Syracuse)

Surface weather setup for Sunday in the Northeast.

Given the lower dew points and cooler temperatures, you'll also be able to open windows at night, with lows cooling into the 50s and 60s before sunrise.
(MAPS: 10-day U.S. Forecast Highs/Lows)
Next week, the warmth will build again in advance of a second cold front due to arrive around midweek. Highs may flirt with the 90-degree mark again before that occurs in parts of the mid-Atlantic states.

Record High Recap

Wednesday, roughly a handful of daily record highs were tied or set, including:

• Cleveland, Ohio: 94 degrees (tie)
• Zanesville, Ohio: 93 degrees (tie)
• Allentown, Pennsylvania: 91 degrees (tie)
• Wheeling, West Virginia: 90 degrees

Thursday, daily record highs were set at the following places:

• Washington's Dulles Airport: 96 degrees
• Georgetown, Delaware: 94 degrees
• Williamsport, Pennsylvania: 94 degrees 
• Trenton, New Jersey: 95 degrees (tie)
• Wilmington, North Carolina: 94 degrees (tie)

Friday, daily record highs were set at the following places:

• Washington D.C. (Dulles Airport): 98 degrees
• Atlantic City, New Jersey: 97 degrees
• Philadelphia: 95 degrees
• Trenton, New Jersey: 95 degrees
• Wilmington, Delaware: 95 degrees
• Baltimore: 95 degrees
• Georgetown, Delaware: 94 degrees
• New York City (La Guardia Airport): 93 degrees
• Islip, New York: 91 degrees
• Bridgeport, Connecticut: 90 degrees

Friday, record-warm low temperatures were also set at the following places:

• Philadelphia: 80 degrees (all-time September record-warm low temperature)
• Washington D.C. (Reagan National Airport): 78 degrees
• Washington D.C. (Dulles Airport): 74 degrees

The National Weather Service has issued some great heat safety tips.

• Drink before you are thirsty.
• Do NOT leave kids or pets in the car, even for a minute.
• Reduce time in the sun.
• Avoid strenuous activity; postpone outdoor activities.
• Seek air-conditioned buildings.
• Help the elderly, kids and pets stay cool.
• Keep window blinds closed.

MORE: Urban Heat Islands