Northeast faces mix of hot air and powerful storms

It will feel more like the middle of summer for parts of the Northeast through midweek as severe thunderstorms clash with temperatures in the 90s.

AccuWeather meteorologists say much of the Northeast will be sweltering in heat while some cool air hangs on in parts of the northern and eastern tier. Others will be blasted by powerful late-summer thunderstorms through midweek.

The hottest areas through midweek will extend from the western slopes of the Appalachians to the lower part of the mid-Atlantic coast, including Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C., where it will feel like the middle of summer with highs reaching the mid-90s.

An atmospheric roadblock in the Northeast will prevent the core of the hot air from expanding through to New England.

Instead, rounds of cooler air relative to the Midwest will drop southeastward from Canada. This will keep much of New England, including Boston and northern and eastern upstate New York, somewhat naturally air-conditioned most of the time this week with highs mainly in the 70s F. However, there will be a brief surge of warmth with highs well into the 80s at midweek, even in much of New England.

AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will still approach 90 from the eastern shores of Lake Ontario to southwestern New England and Long Island, New York on Wednesday.

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The surge of heat on Wednesday and may result in temperatures climbing 5-10 degrees above levels from Monday and Tuesday from the central Appalachians to the mid-Atlantic and even more in southern New England.

Ninety-degree air will be common from southern Ohio to parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and points on south on Wednesday where the core of the heat surge will be directed.

When there's a contrast of temperatures over a small area in the summer, showers and thunderstorms often come with the territory. That's exactly what the Northeast can expect through at least midweek.

From Tuesday to Wednesday, heavy, gusty and locally severe thunderstorms will affect the Great Lakes region, including areas around Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.

At times, these locally powerful thunderstorms packing strong wind gusts, hail and flash flooding can even approach parts of the central Appalachians on Tuesday.

There is a higher chance of severe storms reaching parts of eastern New York, central and southwestern Pennsylvania and much of Ohio on Wednesday.

The AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gusts for both days is 75 mph.

Later this week, there is the potential for showers and thunderstorms to continue over the central Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic region.

Much of New England will likely be dry and significantly cooler from Thursday to Friday, resulting in a refreshing end to the week.

The approach of a strong cold front from the Midwest will set off drenching showers and locally gusty thunderstorms from west to east during the first part of the Labor Day weekend.

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