Residents of New England are bracing for a significant heat wave this week, with cities like Springfield, Mass., Manchester, NH, and Burlington, VT, poised to possibly set new daily high temperature records.
Dominating the weather scene is a high-pressure system, which is ushering in mostly sunny skies across the Northeast, a welcome change for many following a stretch of cooler weather.
The ongoing warming trend, coupled with the high pressure positioned to the south, is expected to create mid-summer-like conditions across New England over the next few days.
As Wednesday dawns, temperatures will already be hovering in the mid-60s.
With sunrise occurring just after 5 a.m., the surface is anticipated to warm quite quickly, propelling Boston and parts of Southern New England likely to hit the 80-degree mark by noon.
By the afternoon, most areas will settle comfortably into the mid-80s, with some locations west of I-95 potentially reaching 90 degrees due to the presence of haze in the atmosphere from Canadian wildfire smoke.
Early risers may notice an orange or red glow during sunrise, particularly in Central and Northern New England, while a fiery red sunset could be in store for much of the region as well.
Though most of the wildfire smoke is expected to remain suspended high in the atmosphere, some areas in southwestern New England and the higher elevations of the Green and White Mountains may experience poor air quality due to denser smoke.
Individuals with respiratory issues are advised to limit their outdoor time, especially on Wednesday.
Dew points are also projected to increase on Wednesday, though temperatures will remain in the 50s, leading to a noticeably heavier but still comfortable atmosphere.
As the weather pattern evolves, Thursday marks a pivotal day.
The high-pressure dome is expected to begin disintegrating, yet not before delivering one final bout of warmth.
Boston could very well see temperatures soar to the 90-degree mark, with areas situated between I-95 and I-91 in Springfield potentially reaching the mid-90s.
A sense of humidity will also increase significantly, as dew points are predicted to rise into the mid-60s, making the air feel heavy and sticky.
As a weak cold front approaches New England late Thursday, thunderstorms are likely to develop along the frontal boundary, creating an unstable atmosphere due to the hot and moist air.
The primary shower and storm activity will likely occur across Central and Western New England, with a marginal risk of severe storms.
In Greater Boston, residents can expect mostly sunny conditions accompanied by haze, with highs pushing towards the mid-80s and southwest winds around 10 mph.
As evening falls, the skies will remain clear with the haze starting to subside, leading to nighttime lows in the mid-60s.
For Southeastern Massachusetts, sunny skies and some haze will dominate the day, with highs reaching the low 80s, while immediate coastlines might see temperatures plateauing in the upper 70s.
Nighttime conditions will remain clear with lows dropping to the low 60s.
Central and Western Massachusetts will also see sunny, hazy skies, with highs reaching the mid to upper 80s in cities such as Worcester and Springfield, while the Berkshires hover around the 80-degree mark.
Lows for these areas will fall to the upper 50s and low 60s under pristine, clear skies with lingering haze.
The Cape and Islands are in for sunny weather with a gentle breeze, seeing highs in the mid- to upper 70s and clear nighttime skies with lows around the upper 50s.
Rhode Island will revel in sunny and bright conditions, with haze thickening throughout the day as highs reach the mid-80s for regions north of Providence, while areas closer to the shore see upper 70s.
In New Hampshire, mostly sunny skies will blanket the state, with highs reaching the 80s nearly everywhere, particularly in cities like Nashua and Manchester.
However, some areas in the mountains might face air quality issues due to the haze, with lows settling into the low 60s amid mostly clear skies at night.
Vermont and Maine will experience warm and sunny weather with most regions crossing into the 80s, though the immediate coast of Maine will remain in the upper 70s.
A lingering haze will dominate the daytime skies, with nighttime conditions becoming partly to mostly clear, yielding lows in the upper 50s and low 60s.
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