EASTERN UNITED STATES — A heat wave sweeping the eastern United States could break daily high temperature records on Wednesday in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. The heat wave is unusual in April both for its intensity and its duration.
The National Weather Service projected a high temperature of about 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) for Central Park in New York City on Wednesday, just one degree short of the record for that date of 87 degrees, set in 1941. Philadelphia was expected to reach 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33.3 degrees Celsius), while Washington, D.C., could see a high of 94 degrees Fahrenheit (34.4 degrees Celsius). Atlanta's high was projected at 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31.1 degrees Celsius).
"We're going to have records challenged from basically Georgia all the way up through the New York City area and back towards the Ohio Valley," said John Feerick, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.com. "That's borderline unprecedented as far as the duration of it this time of year," he added. "That means it won't feel as hot as a sizzling July day," Feerick said.
A strong ridge of high pressure funneling moisture into the southern Plains caused the unusual heat in the eastern United States, according to the National Weather Service. Near-record temperatures are expected to last into the weekend, with the heat wave forecast to continue through Friday in many areas. The Weather Prediction Center wrote in a memo that "Widespread lower to even middle 90s are expected Friday across the lower elevations of the Carolinas, which could set additional daily records and perhaps come close to some monthly records."
Early-season heat can place greater stress on people's bodies because they have not had a chance to acclimate to high temperatures. Heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States, according to the National Weather Service. Infants, young children, older adults, people with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women are especially vulnerable to heat-related injuries and death, the agency said.
A strong cold front is forecast to move toward the eastern seaboard by Sunday, ending the heat wave, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures are expected to be cooler by Monday as the front moves out to sea.