Second Heat Event Of Summer Looms

We're a couple of days away from the beginning of our second heat event of the year. Whether it makes it to a heat wave by hitting on 90 remains to be seen but we will get two hot to very hot days, perhaps three, this week before we enter a more unsettled pattern for the weekend as a front stalls out nearby.   The combination of surface high pressure off of the Carolinas and very warm temperatures aloft will allow the heat that brought 100 degree temperatures to Texas and Louisiana the past couple of days to work its way northeast and torch us.

Computer modeling suggests Thursday is the hottest of the upcoming stretch as high temperatures could approach record levels in Philadelphia.   The record for Thursday is 98 and we're predicting 96 in our forecast for Thursday.  Whether it hits or not is not important...the combination of heat and dewpoints in the 60's will bring heat index values close to 100 to the region, which is rather nasty regardless of whether the surface temperature is 95, 96, or 98 as it's gonna be hot.   Heat will even impact the Shore pre sea breeze in the afternoon as the surface winds will generally be west and west-southwest.  Expect highs in the 80's Wednesday-Friday at the Shore Points each day, with temperatures quickly reaching 90 as you get a mile or two inland.

A cool front will try to slide through the region -- whether that occurs early in the day Friday or on Friday afternoon remains to be seen but the front's bigger story is its predicted stalling out over the Mid Atlantic.  Assuming the front does stall out, an unsettled weekend with scattered thunderstorms looms for both Saturday and Sunday.   The one thing the front should be able to do is bring an end to the heat.   Unfortunately, the potential price to pay is a less than stellar weekend but after reaching the 90's for two to three days, some may be willing to pay that price.   Thunder will not occur all weekend long but neither day looks completely dry and thunderstorms will be scattered about more numerous in the afternoon both days this coming weekend.