First Heat Wave of the Year on the Way for Much of Midwest and Northeast

Posted: July 25, 2023 3:00 pm

The heat is building across the Midwest, the Great Lakes, and the Northeast, giving much of the country a taste of what the Desert Southwest has been dealing with over the last few weeks.

Temperatures are expected to soar to their highest levels of the year this summer for many of the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. Here is what you can expect in the coming days as Mother Nature cranks up the thermostat.

Widespread Readings in the 90s on the Horizon

Forecasters are predicting that the mercury will climb to about 6 – 12 degrees above average this week throughout much of the Midwest and the Northeast. Over 100 million Americans in this part of the country will be under this extreme heat, marking the most widespread hot weather of the season so far.

The most typical temperatures will hover in the low to mid 90s. Some areas will approach the triple digits as the heat wave intensifies. In fact, at least 45 states are expected to see readings of at least 90 degrees this week.

What is in Store for the Northeast

The mercury will begin the upward trajectory by the middle of the week with the peak of the heat expected to hit by Thursday and Friday. New York City is forecast to reach the mid 90s by the end of week.

Should the hot conditions hang on through Saturday, the Big Apple may experience its first official heat wave of the year. Heat waves in the Northeast are officially defined as three consecutive days of temperatures of at least 90 degrees or higher.

Philadelphia is also expected to see an official heat wave with readings in the 90s predicted for Wednesday through Saturday. While the City of Brotherly Love is not likely to climb above the century mark, readings in the mid to upper 90s are on tap for Thursday and Friday.

It will also be a warm end to the week in Boston. The city is forecast to reach readings just above 90 degrees on Thursday and Friday. However, temperatures will likely remain in the upper 80s on Wednesday and Saturday, keeping the city from experiencing a true heat wave.

The nation’s capital will be one of the hottest spots on the East Coast with highs forecast to reach the upper 90s. Nearby Baltimore may flirt with triple digits. The high temperatures recorded so far this year in Washington, D.C. is 95 degrees with Baltimore seeing a high of 96 degrees. Both of these seasonal highs will likely be eclipsed this week.

Forecasters are warning that the real feel readings in this part of the country will likely exceed 100 degrees when the humidity and powerful sunshine are taken into account.

Midwest Will Also Sizzle

The ridge of high pressure responsible for the heat dome in the Southwest will move to the northeast, enveloping parts of the Midwest this week. This will bring temperatures that are expected to hit or exceed 100 degrees in cities such as St. Louis.

Like the Northeast, the nation’s heartland will see the heat peak on Thursday and Friday.

This weather will feel like quite a departure for Detroit and Pittsburgh, both cities that have hovered at about 90 degrees for high temperatures so far this summer. Chicago is also forecast to experience its first official heat wave of the summer this week with four days of temperatures at the 90-degree barrier or higher on tap for Tuesday through Friday.

While the week will not be marked with a significant amount of moisture, there is the chance of thunderstorm activity firing up at the beginning and end of the heat waves. The middle days are more likely to remain dry.

When Will the Temperatures Cool?

You can expect the temperatures to begin to cool by the end of the weekend as the jet stream moves to the south. This movement will bring in cooler air from Canada, helping to knock down the temperatures as a result.

The Great Lakes, New England, and the central portions of the Appalachians will begin to experience the relief on Saturday. The Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic will enjoy the cooler temperatures by Sunday. The Midwest and the Northeast will need to wait until Monday to see a noticeable cooling of the air.

Temperatures will fall into the upper 70s and the low 80s across much of the Great Lakes and into New England with the change in the weather pattern. The Ohio Valley and the mid-Atlantic will top out in the mid 80s for afternoon highs to start the work week.

Unfortunately, the cooler air coming from Canada may also bring down the smoke and haze from the wildfires burning in this part of North America. This may translate to poor air quality alerts for some parts of the northern U.S.

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