The heat and humidity that have enveloped Massachusetts this week will peak on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to soar past 90 and a Heat Advisory warning of heat indices even warmer than that.
National Weather Service forecasters expect the heat indices, or “feels like” temperature, to climb to around 100 on Wednesday across almost the entire state.
The advisory is in place until 7 p.m. Thursday, and warns of potential heat-related illnesses.
“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” forecasters wrote.
That said, communities along the immediate coast in Eastern Massachusetts could feel some reprieve from the heat in the form of onshore winds. Even that relief is expected to be short-lived, with winds shifting south and causing temperatures to rise.
There is a chance for showers or a thunderstorm on Wednesday around sunset, but “it will be difficult to see anything organized or potentially severe,” forecasters said.
However, forecasters do expect storms to form overnight into Thursday morning as the elongated area of high pressure that has pumped the heat and humidity into the state moves offshore. Showers and storms are expected to particularly hit Western and Central Massachusetts.
“None of the convective parameters are favorable for severe weather, but certainly the anomalous moisture could bring brief downpours,” forecasters wrote.
Heat and humidity remain on Thursday, with cloud cover expected to limit the afternoon heating. Heat indices are forecasted to climb into the 90s again on Thursday, but likely won’t be as high as Wednesday.
Friday will remain hot, with lower humidity, while real relief arrives this weekend, with temperatures more typical of mid-July.
