The end of the oppressive heat and humidity is almost here.
After another brutal day of dangerous heat and humidity on tap for Wednesday, Bay Staters will get some relief for the final days of the week.
“We finally get a cold front swinging through late Wednesday night into Thursday,” National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Leatham told the Herald. “It should be much nicer by Thursday.”
Much of Massachusetts is under a “Heat Advisory” through Wednesday evening, as heat index values hover around 100 degrees amid nasty humidity.
Then the cold front will bring much more comfortable air to the region Thursday through the weekend with high temps in the 80s — and dewpoints falling from the 70s to the 60s, and even upper 50s.
“It won’t feel nearly as muggy out,” Leatham said.
The lower dewpoints should stay there through the weekend, even into early next week.
“Temperatures will also be much more comfortable Thursday and Friday with highs in the low to mid 80s, warming into the upper 80s for the weekend,” the National Weather Service’s forecast discussion reads.
Following two months of below-average rainfall, the Western region of Massachusetts is now in a “Level 1-Mild Drought.”
All other regions of the state — Connecticut River Valley, Central, Northeast, Southeast, Cape Cod, and Islands — remain in “Level 0-Normal conditions.”
During a mild drought, below-normal conditions are just setting in, and impacts are slowly starting to be seen across the region.
“As we continue to experience infrequent rainfall and intense heat waves, it is crucial to take meaningful action to protect our resources,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Conserving water during a drought is not just a short-term solution – it’s a critical step in addressing climate change.
“By using water wisely, we can reduce stress on water sources already strained by changing weather patterns,” Tepper added. “It is important we work together to safeguard our water for the present and the future.”
Those living and working within the mild drought region should: minimize overall water use; limit outdoor watering to one day per week; fix indoor leaks; minimize lawn sizes; and more.
