Surge of Warmth Heads Into the Northeast to End the Week

Posted: May 11, 2023 9:30 am

The Northeast is gearing up for the warmest weather it has seen so far this year. However, the intense warmup is not expected to hang around for long. Here is the forecast for this corner of the U.S. in the coming days.

Roller Coaster Weather Pattern Marches On

The mercury will climb well into the 80s for parts of the interior Northeast on Thursday and Friday. This dramatic warmup is simply a continuation of the roller coaster of weather that the region has seen since the beginning of April.

After starting the month of April off with unseasonably warm readings, the temperature plummeted well below average once May rolled around.

With summer still over a month away, the temperatures in the Northeast to close out the week will have many people reaching for swimsuits and sunblock. Be sure to get out and enjoy the warmer temperatures while you can.

The heat will be gone almost as quickly as it arrived, expected to let up by the weekend when a cool air mass drops down from Canada. The good news is that temperatures are expected to remain within normal range for this time of the year.

How Warm Will it Get?

The first week of May was unseasonably cool and dreary for the Northeast. The last few days have brought temperatures closer to average along with the drier conditions.

While some areas of the Northeast began to see a slight uptick in the temperatures on Wednesday, the real heat will not set in until Thursday and Friday as high pressure builds over the region.

It will feel more like the last part of June for the bulk of the Northeast by the time the weekend rolls around and things cool again.

For instance, the major metropolitan areas of New York City and Philadelphia are expecting the mercury to top out in the 80s by Thursday with even warmer readings on tap for Friday.

Some portions of the interior Northeast and the mid-Atlantic may see temperatures that approach the 90-degree benchmark to end the work week.

New England will experience the most abrupt change in the weather. Daily highs will jump into the upper 70s and low 80s after spending a few days earlier in the week in the 50s.

The low humidity levels will keep the real feel readings more pleasant. Forecasters are encouraging residents to enjoy this warmth without the typical summer humidity while it is here.

The Mother’s Day weekend will bring cooler but moderate temperatures to the Northeast and beyond. Temperatures will be back within the normal range for the middle of May. Multiple cold fronts moving down from Canada will also usher in the chance of rain and thunderstorms for some communities.

Hazards Accompanying Surge of Warmth

Forecasters are warning residents that a number of hazards will accompany the warmer weather. You can expect the risk of wildfires to increase because of a lack of moisture associated with the warm temperatures.

New England will be under the greatest threat as trees and flowers are just now beginning to leaf out and bloom. This means there is still an abundance of dry vegetation on the ground to fuel any potential fires.

Local officials continue to warm people to exercise care when using bonfires for recreational purposes. For instance, you should never leave your campground until the fire is extinguished.

Raging wildfires in western Canada have sent smoke all the way to the Great Lakes and the Northeast in recent days, serving as a reminder about the dangers of these fires. Although the smoke filtering down into the U.S. is not enough to compromise air quality levels, some overly sensitive individuals may notice its presence.

This is also a good time to stock up on sunscreen. Many people do not realize the full power of the sun during this time of the year. As always, you should apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen containing an SPF of at least 15 when headed outdoors for more than 15 minutes at a time.

Lastly, it is important to consider the dangers of cold water shock. It is understandable to want to hop in a lake or an ocean when the mercury makes its first surge of the season. However, the water has not warmed up to summer like levels as of yet.

Plunging into a body of water this time of the year could prove to be fatal if hypothermia and cold water shock sets in. Take extra care when testing out the water temperatures before deciding to take the plunge.

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