A warm and increasingly humid weather pattern is settling across New England and the Northeast as the region heads through the middle of the week, bringing rising temperatures, scattered thunderstorms, and the potential for dangerous heat in some areas by Thursday and Friday.
Across southern New England, Wednesday will feature a mix of clouds and sunshine with afternoon temperatures climbing into the 80s. Boston is expected to reach 86 degrees, Worcester will top out near 84 degrees, while Springfield and Hartford climb into the lower 80s. Providence is forecast to reach 82 degrees, while coastal communities such as Bridgeport remain somewhat cooler due to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean.
While much of the daytime period will remain dry, scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop during the afternoon and evening hours. Most communities will not see continuous rainfall, but any thunderstorm that develops could produce brief heavy downpours, lightning, and gusty winds.
Overnight, showers and thunderstorms will continue to move through portions of New England. Areas of fog are expected to develop, especially across eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, southern New Hampshire, and portions of Maine. Motorists traveling during the late night and early morning hours should be prepared for periods of reduced visibility.
The biggest weather story arrives Thursday as a significant surge of heat spreads across much of southern New England. Temperatures are expected to climb well into the 90s throughout interior Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Worcester is forecast to reach 93 degrees with heat index values approaching 97 degrees. Springfield could climb to 95 degrees with heat index values reaching as high as 102 degrees. Hartford is also expected to reach 94 degrees with heat index values near 102. Boston is forecast to reach 91 degrees while Providence climbs into the lower 90s. Bridgeport is expected to reach 92 degrees with heat index values approaching 100 degrees.
The combination of heat and humidity will make conditions feel considerably warmer than the actual air temperature, particularly during the afternoon hours.
Thunderstorm chances will once again increase Thursday afternoon and evening. While many communities will stay dry for much of the day, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop as a cold front approaches the region. Some storms may contain heavy rain, frequent lightning, and locally gusty winds.
Northern New England will experience somewhat cooler temperatures but a more unsettled weather pattern. Portland is expected to remain in the 70s through Thursday and Friday, while Belfast stays in the upper 70s. Berlin, New Hampshire faces one of the wetter forecasts in the region, with multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms expected through Thursday.
Manchester will continue to see summer-like warmth with temperatures near 90 degrees both Wednesday and Thursday. Hampton Beach will remain cooler than inland locations thanks to onshore winds and ocean temperatures, although periods of fog and scattered showers are expected.
Looking ahead to Friday, the heat remains locked in across much of southern New England. Springfield could approach 97 degrees, Hartford could reach 95 degrees, Worcester remains in the lower 90s, and Boston is expected to stay in the mid-80s. Additional afternoon and evening thunderstorms remain possible throughout the region.
Elsewhere across the Northeast, temperatures will also remain above normal. New York City is forecast to reach the mid-80s by Thursday and Friday. Newark could reach 95 degrees both days, while Philadelphia may approach 96 degrees with heat index values exceeding 100 degrees. Albany is expected to climb into the upper 80s Thursday before reaching the lower 90s Friday.
The overall weather pattern through the end of the week will feature periods of heat, humidity, and scattered thunderstorms. Residents across New England should prepare for summer-like conditions, stay hydrated during the hottest part of the day, and remain alert for rapidly developing thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours.
NewsTalk New England will continue monitoring conditions across the region and provide updates as needed throughout the week.