Very Hot & Humid Weather Is Expected To Continue Through The Fourth Of July Across Western & Central Mass

For The Rest Of This Afternoon & Tonight: A prolonged period of dangerous heat and humidity is expected across the entire area that’ll last through the Fourth of July. The worst days in terms of heat and humidity will be Thursday and Friday.

Partly sunny skies are expected throughout the rest of this afternoon. Temperatures will be between 90 and 95 Degrees. Dew point temperatures will be in the low to mid 70s. Heat index readings will be between 100 and 105 Degrees throughout the rest of this afternoon. Winds will be West to Southwest at 10 to 20 mph.

Very little relief is expected tonight as low temperatures will only fall to between 70 and 75 Degrees with very humid conditions.

One thing that we will have to watch for very late this afternoon and especially tonight is the possibility of another complex of thunderstorms pushing southward from northern New York State and northern New England and moving through our area. Weather analysis at the time of this post reveals that there is thunderstorms developing over far southern Quebec province, as well as across western New York State.

To me, it appears that the upper level wind flow should guide the complex of thunderstorms that are now located over southern Quebec province to our east & these storms could affect eastern Mass and the Cape very late tonight into the early morning hours of Thursday.

It’s the thunderstorms that are now trying to form over western New York State that we may have to watch as they could try to push across our area during this evening. I do think that Western Mass has the higher chance of seeing thunderstorms, some of which may be strong, during this evening. No matter what occurs, I will be watching the progression of any thunderstorm activity & will update you as needed.

Thursday: Very dangerous heat and humidity is expected on both Thursday and Friday. I strongly recommend everyone to limit your time outdoors as the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke is high. If you do need to be outdoors for an extended period of time, drink lots of fluids, find a shaded spot & don’t overexert yourself.

Sunny to partly sunny skies are expected throughout the day on Thursday & it will be very hot and humid. High temperatures will be around 100 Degrees. Dew point temperatures will be near 75 Degrees. Heat index readings by Thursday afternoon will be a very dangerous 110 to 115 Degrees. It should be noted that the Connecticut River Valley may have high temperatures of around 105 Degrees on Thursday afternoon with heat index readings of 115 to 120 Degrees.

Friday: Very dangerous heat and humidity is also expected on Friday with high temperatures of around 100 Degrees and dew point temperatures of 70 to 75 Degrees. Heat index readings by Friday afternoon will be around 110 Degrees. The Connecticut River Valley may have 105 Degree high temperatures on Friday with heat index readings of around 115 Degrees.

Skies during the day on Friday will be partly sunny. It’s possible that scattered thunderstorms will affect the entire area during the late afternoon and evening hours. The atmosphere is expected to be very unstable on Friday due to the high heat and humidity. Because of this, any thunderstorms that do form will probably be strong to severe with very gusty winds, hail, torrential downpours and frequent lightning.

This Weekend: The Fourth of July looks partly sunny & it will be very hot and humid with high temperatures of around 95 Degrees and dew point temperatures of 70 to 75 Degrees. Heat index readings will be near 105 Degrees.

Sunday looks partly sunny & it’ll be hot and humid. In addition, there may be some afternoon and evening scattered thunderstorms. Some of these thunderstorms could be on the strong to severe side. High temperatures will be between 85 and 90 Degrees. Dew point temperatures will be around 65 Degrees.

I will end this weather post with a picture from last winter right after the January 17-18 storm which dropped about 7 inches of snow here in Sturbridge. Hopefully, this picture will give you cool thoughts during this extended period of very hot and humid weather.