It’s going to feel unseasonably warm this afternoon
Warm air is spreading over the eastern part of the country.
Temperatures this time of year are usually in the upper 50s to mid-60s. With less light—and the light we have not as strong as it was back in the summer—it’s much harder to have temperatures in the 70s or even 80s in mid- to late October.
And yet, the high temperature weather map across the country for Tuesday shows summer warmth stretched across much of the eastern United States.
Southern New England is going to be on the northern tip of this warm air and, therefore, not nearly as warm as just a few hundred miles south, where some areas got into the mid- and upper 80s on Monday.
Very warm air is stretching across much of the eastern part of the country.
On Tuesday, a frontal system is moving northward and bringing a surge of warmer-than-usual air to the region. The record high for today in Boston is 82 degrees, which was set back in 1947. In Worcester and Providence, the record for today is a whopping 85 set back in 1908, an indication that warm days like this do happen, even in October.
We will not break or even come close to any of these records today, but it’s still going to feel unseasonably warm.
There were some showers around the region earlier this morning, and these occurred along a front dividing the very warm air from the simply mild air across New England. Highs in Maine today will remain in the 50s and 60s, and the challenge to our forecast is just where the line between it feeling like summer and fall will lie this afternoon.
Cool air will be tough to dislodge this afternoon from Boston North.
The map below shows which cities could set new records today. On this map, Boston has a forecast high of 77—certainly warm, but not near the record. If the front dividing the warm and cooler air does move north earlier, Logan Airport could be warmer than this forecast, but if the front stalls, temperatures will remain much cooler. I am leaning toward the cooler solution and think that if these highs are reached, it will be after 3 p.m. What this means: Plan on a cooler day than you likely expected in the city.
The greatest opportunity for you to enjoy a 75-degree reading today is in areas south and west of Route 91. The North Shore will likely be the coolest area today, never getting out of the 60s.
Several cities south of New England could see record highs today.
The reason for the unseasonably mild air is an area of high pressure off the coast to our south. The winds around this weather system area pumping warm and somewhat humid air into the area. This is the same type of setup that has been responsible for preventing the region from seeing much in the way of rain this year.
The entire area will be in the warm air one more day. On Wednesday, Boston has a forecast high close to 80. Blue Hills is forecast to hit 81 degrees in the afternoon—that would tie the record if it happens.
Temperatures will continue to be warm on Wednesday.
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