Unpack your bathing suits and plug in your air conditioners. No, seriously. Summer’s right around the corner — and forecasters say it’s going to be a hot one.
Meteorologists expect the heat to arrive in full force by June, and anticipate the region will see numerous 90-degree days by summer’s end.
During “June, July and August, you’ll see your series of heat waves,” AccuWeather.com long-range forecaster Paul Pastelok said.
However, Pastelok said, this summer is not likely to break any major seasonal records in terms of heat, or even crack the top five.
“I see above-normal temperatures for the summer, but I don’t see a record breaking scenario at this point,” he said.
Pastelok said the Midwest and parts of central Canada are in store for severely hot summers, and some of that air will flow into our region, driving temperatures to be generally above normal.
The hot pattern may be interrupted occasionally by severe weather that can cause temperatures to dip, particularly during July.
“July is a tricky month where there may be a few cooldowns from thunderstorms and backdoor fronts,” Pastelok said.
Toward the end of the season, conditions are expected to become increasingly dry, but will remain hot, which could boost the threat for fires around the region, forecasters said.
Pastelok said that the recent stretch of chilly, wet weather we’ve experienced will be crucial as conditions dry out heading into the summer.
“What’s helping us a bit here is the rain we’re seeing now,” he said. “That’s the good news.”
The predictions from AccuWeather.com jibe with the latest long-term forecast from the National Weather Service, which was released April 21 and called for above-normal temperatures for our region through July, coupled with average precipitation.
The weather service’s next three-month outlook is due to be published May 19.
