The Eastern United States is about to experience its most intense heatwave of the year, with temperatures and humidity levels set to skyrocket early next week.
A sharp warmup will begin this weekend as hot air pushes eastward from the Mississippi Valley. By Monday and Tuesday, the weather will feel firmly like mid-summer, breaking a chilly stretch that required winter coats in parts of the Northeast just days prior. Nighttime lows are expected to stay well above freezing, effectively ending the frost season for the region.
AccuWeather Vice President of Forecast Operations Dan DePodwin stated, “Given the forecast temperatures and humidity levels in the East early next week, it will feel more like summer than spring. In many areas, Tuesday will bring the highest temperatures of the year so far, surpassing the highs reached in April.”
While major cities like New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Charlotte hit 90 degrees in mid-April, May has remained notably cooler. Meanwhile, places like Boston have yet to see an 80-degree day this year.
That is expected to change rapidly, with some daily temperature records potentially being challenged, even though record thresholds are higher in mid-May than in early spring. Coastal areas may see some relief, however, as cool Atlantic waters and onshore breezes could cap afternoon warming.
The incoming heat brings a high risk of worsening drought conditions across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, where soil moisture levels range from abnormally dry to exceptional.
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AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson explained, “The combination of intense mid-May sunshine and heat will pull additional moisture from the ground across multiple states in the East. That will likely worsen and expand drought conditions during a critical period for crop development, while also further lowering stream, lake and reservoir levels heading into summer.”
Fire hazards are also a growing concern for dry regions. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Matt Benz noted, “Despite an uptick in humidity levels into next week, any day where the breeze is active, combined with drought, dry vegetation and fallen leaves from last autumn, the risk of brushfires will increase as temperatures surge.” Conversely, parts of Upstate New York and New England that recently received heavy rainfall face a much lower risk of wildfires.
Some relief from the dry spell is on the horizon, as showers and severe thunderstorms are projected to move into the Tennessee and Ohio valleys, as well as parts of the Appalachians, between Tuesday and Wednesday.
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