Starting to warm up

Here Comes the Heat

High pressure has built into the Finger Lakes and will keep the region hot and dry for much of the next week.

This high pressure is centered just south of the region today, resulting in winds aloft from the northwest.

As a result, the much anticipated intense heat is still a day or two off. It will still be plenty warm today, though.

Temperatures are quickly rising through the 60s early this morning with 70s and 80s likely by midday. Afternoon highs will reach the mid 80s for many areas with low 80s in the higher elevations.

The air overhead is quite dry, so the humidity will not be an issue today. Dewpoints will remain comfortably in the 50s.

Skies will be clear overnight, but morning lows will only drop into the mid 60s.

Major Heat Wave

Saturday will be the first day where the heat becomes significant, kicking off our heat wave.

Low and mid 90s are likely for highs across much of the region on Saturday. Only higher elevations in the Southern Tier and Central New York will stay in the upper 80s.

Dewpoints will rise into the 60s and low 70s, resulting in heat index values between 90-100 degrees.

Sunday and Monday are both looking brutally hot. Temperatures in the 90s will be widespread with many areas seeing mid or upper 90s. One or two places could still see 100 degrees along the I-90 corridor from Rochester to Syracuse.

Dewpoints will remain very high as well, resulting in dangerous heat index values over 100 degrees. Locally, the heat index could approach 110 degrees.

Temperatures will back off slightly for the middle of next week, with highs hovering around 90 degrees Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and possibly even Friday.

Rain during this time period is unlikely until the second half of the week, when a few pop-up showers or thunderstorms may be possible.