While the southern tier endures blistering heat, the Midwest and Northeast are enjoying a short fall preview with temperatures 5-10 degrees below average through Aug. 25; highs in the 60s and overnight lows in the 40s are expected in parts of the interior Northeast. A dip in the jet stream brings cooler air and possible lake-effect showers, but warmth returns starting Aug. 26–27 as the pattern shifts eastward. Looking ahead, most of the nation east of the Rockies trends warmer than normal next week, though the Northeast may stay near normal. Meanwhile, the south-central U.S. and Southwest face extreme heat 100-115 F due to a persistent upper-level ridge, elevating heat-related illness risk.
Dive Deeper:
Across the Midwest and interior Northeast, temperatures are forecast to run 5-10 degrees below historical averages through Aug. 25, with several days delivering highs in the 60s downwind of the Great Lakes.
Overnight, interior Northeast areas are expected to see lows in the 40s, signaling a cool snap, though frost is not anticipated yet.
Lake-effect rain showers and storms are likely downwind of the Great Lakes through Aug. 25 due to warm lake waters and brisk northwest winds.
A dip in the jet stream is expected to move out by Aug. 26, allowing warmer and more humid air to return first to the Midwest and then to the Northeast by Aug. 27.
For the weekend and beyond, most of the eastern U.S. is projected to experience above-average warmth, with the exception of near-normal temperatures in the Northeast.
In contrast, the south-central U.S. into the Southwest will remain under an abnormal, hazardous heat regime, with daytime highs of 100-110 F and up to 115 F in some areas, driven by a persistent upper-level ridge.