The central United States has been experiencing intense summer heat, but now this sweltering weather is moving into the Northeast. On Thursday and Friday, residents will face potentially dangerous storms along with high temperatures.
New York City will experience its first major wave of heat and humidity, reminiscent of the summer months. The threat of storms accompanies these weather conditions, raising concerns about safety.
According to Bryan Ramsey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in New York, the temperatures won’t reach 100 degrees, but the humidity will make it feel sweltering. Ramsey, who has adapted to humidity after a childhood in Houston and a move to New York, suggests that the city will feel quite sultry on these two days.
The uncomfortable conditions are due to a thick air mass following a warm front. This combination makes the air sticky and damp, making it difficult for the body to naturally cool. The second week of June is often the onset of warm spells, but this pattern resembles an unusual occurrence of 90-degree days seen in mid-April. This time, the added tropical moisture makes the heat much more oppressive.
Highs from 90 to 95 degrees are predicted along much of the East Coast. Bob Oravec, a senior forecaster at the federal Weather Prediction Center, mentioned that some temperatures might approach record levels. While not excessively hot, these conditions warrant caution.