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Heat Wave Goes Full Throttle Today in the East
UPDATED 2:45 PM EDT, July 6, 2012
UPDATED By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Chad Merrill | The menacing heat wave gripping the East continues to break records today with widespread triple-digits once again along the populated Interstate 95 corridor. A cold front edging south from Canada will bring much needed heat relief by the end of the weekend.
A huge high pressure in the Plains and East has been rotating bursts of hot weather around it for more than a week now. The strong July sun once again today is bringing in temperatures well ahead of the century mark, with added humidity making it feel like 108 to 113 degrees.
Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect from the New York metro area to southern Virginia. An Excessive Heat Watch stretches across eastern North Carolina, while Heat Advisories extend along the warnings from northeastern South Carolina to southern Connecticut. Farther to the west, the Excessive Heat Warnings extend from Iowa to western West Virginia and into Kentucky, while Heat Advisories stretch from central Kansas to the western foothills of the Appalachians. Most major cities from St. Louis to New York City are all included in these heat-related advisories.
As of early this afternoon, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore tied record highs at 102 degrees and 101 degrees respectively. Columbus, Ohio, already tied its record high of 100 degrees while Georgetown, Del., set a new record high of 100 degrees. New York, Chicago, and St. Louis won`t fare much better with temperatures topping out just above 100 degrees. This will put add to the already-record breaking heat wave, which has reached its 9th day in Washington.
Even the typically cooler beaches won`t offer much in the way of relief from the heat. The strong westerly winds will push that hot air all the way to Atlantic City, N.J., Ocean City, Md., and the Outer Banks, all of which will top out well into the 90s today. The only source of cooling will come from a dip in the ocean, which has taken on bathtub-type temperatures in the lower to middle 80s.
The good news is relief is on its way. A cold front is organizing across the northern tier and will push southward across the Great Lakes and New England today, sweeping out the hot temperatures. However, the cool-down will come at a price, which are strong-to-severe thunderstorms. Click here for more details on the severe weather potential.
In these extreme conditions, it is best to avoid being outdoors. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Make sure to check on at-risk groups, including pets, young children and the elderly.
If you must be outdoors for any length of time, take these preventative maintenance tips when dealing with such dangerous heat.
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