Heat Wave Relief Comes Saturday

NECN Heat Advisory Map, 7/18/2013

This week’s intense heat and humidity will last through Saturday. Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories are in effect today for much of Southern New England and will likely be reissued Friday and possibly Saturday as the heat wave continues.

As we get into Saturday, intense heat and humidity will then be followed by a cold front with scattered to numerous strong to severe thunderstorms on Saturday. In a somewhat rare move so far in advance, on Wednesday the Storm Prediction Center issued a “Slight Risk of Severe Weather” for Saturday for all of Southern New England (it is likely to become more than “slight” as we get closer to Saturday). Today and Friday could see an isolated to scattered strong or severe thunderstorm threat, but it’s more likely that widespread severe weather will stay north and west of our region until Saturday.

As we get into Saturday, the current heat wave will end as a strong cold front is expected to make its way into Southern New England. Models have been insistent out as far as 7 days that scattered to numerous strong to severe thunderstorms will organize in a line or several line configurations with the potential for damaging winds, hail, and heavy rain.