Early-Season Heat in the East Likely to Break Records

 Linda Lam

Published: May 24, 2021

Early-season heat will grip the East at times this week and could set records, especially in the South where some areas might see temperatures climb toward the century mark.

A shift in the pattern has taken shape, with the jet stream no longer dipping far southward over the East like it did in the first half of May. Instead, the jet stream is bulging northward as upper-level high pressure strengthens over the East. This has brought dry, warm conditions to much of the eastern United States, including the first 90s of the season to several cities.

On Sunday, Boston, Atlanta and Raleigh, North Carolina, both hit the 90s for the first time in 2021. Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. had their first 90s over the past few days.

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Warmer than average temperatures will extend across parts of the Midwest, Northeast and into the Southeast at times through midweek.

Current Temperatures

Temperatures will climb well into the 90s in the Southeast. This will push temperatures toward daily records in some cities, including Nashville and Raleigh.

(MORE: 90s Are the New Normal in These U.S. Locations)

Forecast Highs

After a cooler Monday, temperatures will climb higher once again in the Northeast by midweek. Highs could flirt with daily records on Wednesday in the mid-Atlantic, including in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City.

This heat will be short-lived in these areas since another sharp cooldown is expected to spread through the Great Lakes and Northeast as the week comes to a close.

Meanwhile, parts of the Southeast could stay hot right through the end of the workweek.

(MAPS: 10-Day Forecast)

Forecast Highs

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.