Heat, humidity and spotty storms in forecast leading into Fourth of July

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Just in time for numerous fireworks displays on July 3, the heat and humidity returns, along with the chance for some spotty storms in the mix as well.

After two spectacular days of weather, it will become uncomfortably sultry Wednesday with most sites across the Buffalo-Niagara region reaching close to 90.

Our stretch of rain free weather will come to an end later Wednesday afternoon and evening when a weak cold front will generate some of those meandering showers and drenching thunderstorms.

"They will be scattered in nature," National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Thomas tells WBEN of the storms on the move. "The more likely areas will be south and southeast of Buffalo." The storms have the possibility to pack a punch, however Thomas believes most will be of the 'garden variety' of thunderstorms.

While most areas will then be rainfree for the Fourth of July, there will only be minimal relief from the heat and humidity.

"We'll shave a couple degrees off the high temperatures and generally mostly dry through the afternoon and into the evening hours," Thomas says of the 4th.

Looking ahead to the weekend, it's a mixed bag, Thomas tells us.

"We're watching another warm front crossing the area for Friday night and Saturday morning," he says. Additional showers and thunderstorms are likely to accompany that front, so stay tuned!