While the mornings are starting off with slightly less humidity, an absence of afternoon clouds will keep it feeling hot!

THE FORECAST:

Today and Tonight: Wednesday could turn out as the hottest day this week. With maximum sunshine and slightly drier air, we can anticipate high temperatures to surge for the low and possibly mid 90s in some locations. A light, northeast wind won’t change much. Overnight, expect clear skies and a low temperature near 70. 

Up Next: Thursday will run very similar to Wednesday. With the tiny drop off in humidity, high temperatures should have no problem achieving low 90s. Skies will be mostly sunny. By Friday, humidity will begin to return—but the afternoon should still bring plenty of sunshine. The next chance for a shower or thunderstorm will be holding off until at least Saturday—and in all likelihood Sunday. The nature of that rain won’t be significant, rather the typical “pop-up” afternoon variety.

The Tropics: Former Tropical Storm Colin has weakened and moved out to sea. No additional tropical development is expected in the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico over the next week.

THE SCIENCE:

Forecast Discussion:  A weak front has slipped through the region reinforcing the slightly drier northerly surface winds. As a result, dew points will remain in the mid 60s for the next 48 hours or so. If there is to be any noticeable weather outcome from this, it will be in the form of slightly less sticky mornings. Of course, drier air is able to warm more readily than moist air and therefore afternoon highs could go a little higher—with some locations ending up in the mid 90s Wednesday and Thursday. A surface high pressure will move from the Mid-Mississippi River Valley to the Eastern United States between now and Friday eventually shifting surface wind to the southeast as the week ends. This will result in return flow and returning humidity. An upper level ridge will build over much of the Eastern United States over the weekend which would typically cap the atmosphere. This may well be the case again however, the GFS and ECMWF suggest that the return flow will be enough to pop a few low topped showers and thunderstorms—especially on Sunday and Monday. Given a little eddy of positive vorticity advection beneath this ridge that seems plausible. However, at this time, no washouts are expected, rather your typical summertime isolated action.      

--Josh

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