Another spell of extreme discomfort is in store for those who live around the major metro areas of the Northeast through the upcoming weekend, when hot temperatures and elevated humidity levels will combine to send the heat index into the danger zone.
High temperatures will generally range from 5 to 15 degrees warmer than average for this time in August from New England down through the mid-Atlantic region. In addition, a surge of moisture, on the heels of a southwesterly wind flow, will increase humidity levels and make it feel even hotter.
The National Weather Service has already issued various heat alerts, including heat advisories and excessive heat watches, and excessive heat warnings for parts of the Northeast, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and the Baltimore-Washington D.C. area.
Washington D.C. and Philadelphia will see high temperatures in the mid-90s through the weekend.
An excessive heat warning is in effect for the metro Philadelphia area through Sunday, where the heat index (how hot it feels) could approach 110 degrees in the afternoon hours. Baltimore and Washington D.C. are under a heat advisory Friday and an excessive heat watch Saturday. heat index values of 105-110 degrees are expected during the afternoon hours, as well.
An excessive heat warning is in effect for the New York City metro area through Saturday evening and an excessive heat watch is in effect from Saturday morning through Sunday evening. A heat advisory is also in effect for Boston and Hartford, Connecticut.
High temperatures in New York City are expected to reach the mid 90s, and the heat index could range from 105-110 degrees in the afternoon hours. Hartford will see highs in the mid-90s with heat indices above 100 degrees.
For the Boston metro area, Friday's high temperature will also reach the mid 90s before cooling of on Saturday and returning to the mid 90s on Sunday, with heat indices above 100 degrees on Friday and Sunday.
The high temperature in New York City could approach or break daily records on Friday and Saturday. Daily records will also be threatened Saturday in Hartford and Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Also, with so much moisture in the air, the heat of the day is trapped by clouds and moisture, so low temperatures in the New York City to Richmond, Virginia, corridor will only fall to around 80 degrees.
