A brief calm before the storm — and then a brutal heat wave unlike anything seen in months. Here’s what’s coming and when you need to be ready.
Wednesday If you step outside Wednesday morning, something will feel different — and that’s the point. Temperatures are dropping to the upper 40s and low 50s overnight, an unusually cool start that many haven’t felt in weeks. Clear skies and low humidity are to thank, and the pleasant conditions will carry into the afternoon, with highs climbing to the upper 70s in lower elevations and upper 60s to mid-70s across the mountains. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Thursday A frontal system begins pushing into the eastern United States on Thursday. The warm front moves through early in the day, nudging temperatures a few degrees higher and sending humidity levels noticeably upward. While most of the region stays dry through the day, late Thursday evening brings the first real concern — isolated showers and storms cannot be ruled out after dark.
Friday – Saturday The cold front arrives Friday and that’s when conditions turn serious. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across the area Friday and persist through Saturday, as the same frontal boundary lingers nearby. Residents should be prepared for multiple rounds of storms over this two-day stretch.
Sunday A brief window of relief may appear Sunday, which is currently trending mostly dry — though a few isolated showers and storms remain possible.
Next Week: Here is where the real danger begins. A major heat wave is forecast to build across the eastern United States early next week, stretching from Florida and Texas all the way north to Minnesota and Pennsylvania. High temperatures are expected to climb into the 90s on multiple days. The only exception will be the high elevations of the Appalachian Mountains. Residents across the region should begin preparing now — check on elderly neighbors, limit outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, and ensure access to cooling centers.
