Northeast summer heat, humidity to fade but not dramatically come Labor Day weekend

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

August 29, 2018, 8:20:32 AM EDT

While heat will dissolve later this week in the northeastern United States, steamy weather may fight back in the mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley during early September.

AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures will continue to push the 100-degree-Fahrenheit mark through the middle of this week along the Interstate 95 corridor.

Schools without air conditioning that started their new year recently may face more early dismissals this week.

Some relief is on the way later this week. However, that cooldown and humidity drop will pale in comparison to the refreshing change that occurred last weekend.

"Northern areas in the region, such as the Great Lakes and northern New England, can expect significant relief from the hot and steamy conditions later this week and into this weekend," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Courtney Spamer.

"In the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic, temperatures will be slashed, but the drop in humidity levels will be well short of being dramatic," Spamer said.

For example, temperatures will drop 15-20 degrees in Burlington, Vermont, from Wednesday to Thursday. By Thursday, it will feel refreshing and autumnlike for those who like cooler weather.

Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., high temperatures will be slashed by 10-15 degrees from Wednesday to Friday, but humidity levels may feel more like late June, rather than late September.

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During the latter part of the weekend and into next week, temperatures and humidity levels will fluctuate. However, highs on multiple days will be well into the 80s to near 90 in the mid-Atlantic, while highs will generally be in the 70s to near 80 across the northern tier.

"Much of next week may bring rounds of showers and thunderstorms across the Great Lakes, New England, New York state and northern Pennsylvania," according to AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok.

Get the latest on the forecast temperature trends by downloading the free AccuWeather app.

"Clouds and rainfall this time of the year can greatly hold back temperatures during the day, hence the temperature difference we are projecting from north to south across the region," Pastelok said.

The weather during the week after Labor Day over much of the eastern U.S. may depend on what is happening in the tropical Atlantic and the western Pacific.

Any tropical depressions, storms or hurricanes that develop near the Bahamas or in the Gulf of Mexico could pump heat and humidity farther to the north over the U.S. next week.

Indeed, there are signs the tropical Atlantic may soon spring to life.

Meanwhile, the track of typhoons over the western Pacific can also be an indicator of changes in the weather in the eastern U.S. a week later.

"When a typhoon curves away from mainland Asia, usually cooler air sweeps into the Midwest and Northeast a week later," Pastelok said. "When a typhoon tracks into mainland Asia, warmth usually builds in the Midwest and Northeast a week later."

AccuWeather meteorologists will be monitoring these areas of the tropics and others for direct and indirect impacts on the weather in the weeks ahead.