Hazy, Hot, and Humid Week Ahead... Relief After! (July 15th - July 21st)

We are in the midst of a summer pattern here in the Northeast and there's no stopping it! We are finally getting much-needed rain tonight in the form of showers and thunderstorms but it won't be enough to overcome our dry spell we have experienced in the last couple of weeks. After the showers clear out, hot and humid conditions once again return thanks to a subtropical ridge across the Central United States advecting warm air into our region. Monday-Wednesday will mark another grueling heat wave in the Northeast. Low to mid 90s are forecasted for Monday under mostly sunny skies. Tuesday is when we REALLY turn it up. We're talking about temperatures reaching into the upper 90s and a few isolated locations may make a run at the century mark (100°F)! Best chance of that occurring will be in the Connecticut River valley. Wednesday is interesting as a cold front is slated to move through sparking a round of thunderstorms. It is unclear whether these thunderstorms will be severe or the run-of-the-mill types so stay tuned here or follow my Twitter for the latest. As far as temperatures go, upper 80s to lower 90s are expected on Wednesday. Having said all of that, the Berkshires and other higher elevation locations will miss out on the upcoming heat wave. They should remain 5°F and, in some instances, as much as 10°F cooler than their valley counterparts. Regardless of where you are, one thing is certain: the second half of the week looks cooler (in regards to summer) and refreshing! Thursday, Friday, and Saturday feature sunny skies and average temperatures for this time of year. Hang in there... relief is just around the corner!

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 88°
Chicopee - 87°
Orange - 86°
North Adams - 85°
Pittsfield - 82°

Highs for Today - Another Hot One! (7/6/2012)

Yes, it's another balmy day out there as summer is out in full force! Tomorrow is going to be even hotter than today with temperatures reaching into the lower 90s in the higher elevations and mid 90s in the valleys. Also, of note, strong to severe thunderstorms could impact our area in the late afternoon and evening hours. If you see dark clouds overhead and hear thunder, please be smart and head inside as soon as possible! Be sure to follow my Twitter for the latest on tomorrow's severe weather potential. Sunday is looking sunny with temperatures in the 80s. We may barely miss out on a heat wave in the valleys as NWS is forecasting temperatures in the upper 80s. Certainly something to keep an eye out in case Sunday trends warmer. At this point, early next week looks gorgeous and a much-needed reprieve from the heat and humidity! Enjoy the weekend folks and stay cool!

Here are the official high temperatures in Western Mass today:

Westfield - 92°
Chicopee - 90°
Orange - 88°
North Adams - 87°
Pittsfield - 87°