An unusually persistent weather pattern is set to plunge the eastern United States into a heatwave, with record-breaking temperatures expected on Wednesday in major cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
This heat is unusual for April, not only because it is hitting much of the country so early in the year, but also because of its duration. Meteorologists forecast that these near-record temperatures will persist through the weekend.
This potentially dangerous heat follows severe storms that swept through Kansas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin on Monday and Tuesday. More storms are possible on Wednesday.
While it is not unheard of to see temperatures reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit in April, the duration of such a heatwave in April is rare, according to experts.
“It’s almost unprecedented in terms of duration at this time of year,” said John Feerick, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.com.
Starting on Wednesday, “records are almost certain to be broken from the Georgia orgy up to the New York region, then back down into the Ohio Valley,” Feerick noted.
The National Weather Service predicts a high temperature of around 86 degrees Fahrenheit for Central Park in New York on Wednesday. The heat record for this date is 86.9 degrees Fahrenheit, set in 1941.
Even hotter weather is expected in Philadelphia, where the high temperature could reach 91 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday. Other areas likely to be affected include Washington, D.C., where the high temperature could reach 93 degrees Fahrenheit, and Atlanta, where it should rise to 88 degrees Fahrenheit.
“It’s really impressive heat for mid-April, that’s for sure,” admitted Feerick.
“The upside is that the humidity levels are not reaching summer levels,” he added. This means the heat won’t be as intense as during a scorching July day.
However, this early heat can be more challenging for the body as people have not had time to acclimate.
“It’s the kind of situation where the body is a bit more put to the test, because we’re not used to it the first time,” warned Feerick.
Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, according to the meteorological service. Infants, young children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to heat-related injuries and illnesses.
A strong high-pressure ridge bringing moisture to the Southeast Plains is behind this unusual heat in the eastern United States, the meteorological service reported.
While Wednesday may be a day where many records could fall, the heatwave is expected to continue until Friday in many regions, forecasters said.
“Widespread temperatures between 90 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit are expected on Friday in the lower elevations of the Carolinas, which could set new daily records and possibly approach some monthly records,” the agency’s meteorological prediction center wrote in a note.
The heatwave is finally expected to ease by Sunday as a powerful cold front moves toward the East Coast, with the weather becoming “pleasantly cooler” starting on Monday, as the front moves away towards the sea, the meteorological service indicated.
