More than 35 million people are under a heat warning in the northeastern United States this weekend as record temperatures stretch from Virginia to New Hampshire.
“If high temperatures reach 90 degrees F or more, they will break daily and monthly records,” the Boston office of the National Weather Service (NWS) said Friday.
The NWS forecast high temperatures of 35°C (96°F) for Boston on Sunday. The daily record for that day is 32 °C (93 °F), while the monthly record for May is 36 °C (97 °F) and was set on May 26, 1880.
Boston’s records are held at Logan International Airport, which is oceanfront, so temperatures tend to be milder than inland. And if the sea breeze sets in the right direction, it could keep airport temperatures from reaching record levels.
Worcester, Massachusetts, has daily highs of 88°F (31°C) and 90°F (32°C) for Saturday and Sunday, but the forecast for this weekend is set to exceed them.
The high forecast for Saturday is 35 °C (96 °F), breaking not only the daily record but also the monthly record of 35 °C (94 °F) set in 2010.
“We’re definitely a bit ahead of the curve,” said Matthew Belk, a meteorologist at the NWS Boston office. “The first day that averages 32°C in Boston is June 8th. But it’s a bit earlier if you’re heading to Hartford, Connecticut, as May 30 is usually the first day with an average of 32°C. “.
The heatwave early in the season this weekend is due to high pressures on the East Coast, which has caused southerly winds to push hot, humid air to the Northeast, resulting in temperatures in the 20s (11C) and 30s Degrees Fahrenheit (16°C) above led to normal for this time of year.
But it’s not just New England that will experience extreme temperatures this weekend. Record high temperatures will also be felt along the I-95 corridor, including New York, Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Nearly 170 million people, about 52% of the population of the lower 48 US states, will experience 90°F (32°C) heat over the next few days.
“More than half of the US population will be experiencing temperatures of 32C or higher this weekend, and it’s only May,” CNN’s Pedram Javaheri said.
In some areas, it’s not just the heat, but also the humidity that pushes temperatures into the triple digits.
Both Richmond, Virginia and Philadelphia are expecting a high of 36°C (97°F) on Saturday, but it will feel like 37°C (100°F) due to humidity.
The 147th Preakness Stakes is being held in nearby Baltimore. Luckily the 7:01pm departure time will not be the hottest of the day, but it will still be very hot. The expected temperature for the start of the race is 91°F (32°C).
“Saturday is expected to be the hottest day of the weekend, with many locations hitting 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) and heat indexes approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius),” he said from the NWS Baltimore office /Washington. “With many outdoor events planned for the area this weekend, please be aware of the heat and take extra precautions if working or spending time outdoors this weekend.”
As if the heatwave wasn’t enough, the mid-Atlantic and Northeast also have the potential for severe storms this weekend.
A cold front will bring isolated severe storms with strong winds and hail as the main threats.
“Thunderstorms are expected to develop around noon in western New York and move eastward in eastern New York and western New England during the afternoon,” the center said. “Some clumps or line segments are expected to persist into early evening.”