Will cooler air next week signal the end of summer heat in northeastern U.S.?

By Jordan Root, Meteorologist

September 10,2016; 10:34PM,EDT

 

 

Following a week of record-breaking heat, some cities will find the opportunity to turn the air conditioners off and pull out the sweatshirts as cool air settles in for a few days.
A strong cold front will be responsible for sending a much cooler air mass across the Great Lakes and Northeast through early next week. High temperatures will be cut 5 F to 15 F compared to highs this past week.
"From New York City to Washington, D.C., highs in the 90s will be replaced with highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s to start the new week," AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said.
The recent heat broke records on Friday in several cities including Philadelphia, Boston, Providence, R.I., and Trenton, N.J. among others.
Philadelphia also set a new record for the highest overnight low temperature Saturday morning. The temperature only dropped to 80 F which is the warmest low for the month of September on record.
The cooldown will put an end to records being broken and will allow folks to give their air conditioners a break and to open a few windows during the day.

While the air will feel cooler as compared to past days, temperatures will actually be around normal or just slightly below for this time of the year.
Perhaps the most noticeable aspect of this airmass will be the drop in humidity. Steamy, July-like air brought very uncomfortable conditions to the Northeast over the past few days but improvement is expected.
Dew points, a variable used to determine how much moisture is in the air, will drop from the 70s to the upper 40s and lower 50s, resulting in a change from oppressive to much more pleasant conditions.
High pressure will follow the front and remain positioned across the Northeast through Tuesday. This will help keep sunshine and dry conditions around for a while.
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"The weather will give residents an excellent opportunity to take part in outdoor activities," Duff said.
Cooler and less humid days will lead to chilly nights across the Northeast, especially in some of the lower spots across the Appalachians where temperatures will dip into the 40s.
Areas closer to the Interstate 95 corridor and the coast will feel temperatures drop into the 50s and lower 60s. Those planning on heading out at night will need to grab a sweatshirt.
Did we experience the last of summer this past week?
It is a fair question to ask whether or not summer is over with now that we are approaching the halfway point of September.
While astronomical autumn does not begin until Sept. 22, meteorological autumn began on Sept. 1, denoting a season change from the year's warmest months to a season where the temperature is rapidly declining.
"While this weekend is likely the last of the true summerlike heat and humidity, temperatures will largely remain above normal for the remainder of September," AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Ed Vallee said.

<section><h2>Are you ready for fall weather</h2></section><section><h2>Yes, I'm ready for warm sweaters and hot cider</h2></section><section><h3>No, I wish summer would last just a little longer</h3></section>

A brief surge of warmth is expected towards the middle of next week as a southerly flow returns to the Northeast. Temperatures will return to the middle to upper 80s for the Interstate 95 corridor while upper 70s will be found farther west.
However, just as quickly as temperatures rise, another cooldown is set to arrive again toward the end of next week.
"Cold fronts will become more common across the Northeast through the rest of September," Vallee said.
This roller coaster-type weather pattern is typical for autumn months and will only increase in frequency and magnitude through November.
"This will lead to a few warm and muggy days, but these will be relieved by cooler, more fall-like days," Vallee said. "Overall though, we expect warmer temperatures to win out over the cooler temperatures through the rest of the month."

AccuWeather is calling for a warm and dry autumn season across the Northeast. For more details, check out the AccuWeather 2016 U.S. fall forecast.