Forecast: Hot & Humid Through the Weekend

Warmest 5-day stretch of temps so far this year

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EXPRESS FORECAST

Today: Mostly sunny and hot. 89-93. | Tonight: Partly cloudy; slight chance of a shower. Low 70s. | Tomorrow: Partly sunny & hot. P.M. thunderstorms. 90-94. | A Look Ahead

FORECAST IN DETAIL

We're into the last week of June and the temperature has thus far failed to eclipse the 90 degree mark; the last time high temperatures above 90 held off until this late in June was 2003. All that is about to change, however, as the next 5 days will feature the warmest stretch of weather we've had this since last summer, and may present us with several opportunities for afternoon highs into the low 90s. This hot weather will be accompanied by the requisite hazy and humid conditions, along with thunderstorm chances primarily tomorrow and Sunday.

Today (Thursday): Abundant sunshine today will allow temperatures to rise to 90 or above across the vast majority of the region. Light winds from the northwest will keep humidity levels from getting too out of hand, though. Confidence: High

Tonight: Clouds may increase a bit during the evening hours as a weak cold front approaches from the north and west. Isolated showers and thunderstorms may develop overnight (20% chance), but most locations will remain dry; the areas most likely to see precipitation will be closer to the Md./Pa. border. Overnight lows will drop to the low 70s. Confidence: Medium-High

Keep reading for the hot weekend forecast...

Tomorrow (Friday): Partly sunny conditions, along with a more southerly flow of air ahead of an approaching cold front, will allow temperatures to rise into the low 90s area-wide; more noticeable however, will be truly oppressive humidity levels which may alllow for afternoon heat indices deep into the 90s by late afternoon. With more moisture to work with, we've got a 50/50 shot at scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms, a few of which may reach severe levels. Confidence: Medium-High

Tomorrow Night: Apart from mostly cloudy skies and a stray shower or thunderstorm during the evening hours, plan on skies becoming partly cloudy overnight with temperatures dropping to around 70 in most locations. Confidence: Medium-High

A LOOK AHEAD

Weak high pressure builds over the region on Saturday, which will help provide mostly sunny skies and lower humidity levels than those on Friday. Make no mistake, however, it will still be hot: highs will range from the upper 80s to near 90. Expect a dry afternoon and evening, though. Mostly clear and mild Saturday night with lows dropping to within a few degrees of 70 area-wide. Confidence: Medium-High

I think we'll see more clouds than sun on Sunday as a weak cold front approaches. This feature may spark off some scattered afternoon and evening thundershowers. Afternoon highs will top out in the upper 80s. A couple leftover showers are possible Sunday evening before temperatures eventually drop to the upper 60s overnight. Confidence: Medium

Plan on partly sunny conditions on back-to-work Monday, with continued warm afternoon highs in the upper 80s. Humidity levels may begin to creep back up again, and some scattered late-day showers or thunderstorms cannot entirely be ruled out. Overnight lows will drop into the upper 60s. Confidence: Medium