Heat, humidity to make a comeback in northeastern US early this week

The much-needed dry spell will hold across most of the northeastern United States through midweek but will come at the expense of heat and humidity that is making a comeback.

After a stretch of comfortable weather, steamy air will continue to surge back across the Northeast into Monday.

Even hotter and more humid conditions await for Tuesday and Wednesday with a few communities set to challenge record highs.

Temperatures are expected to peak at around 90 F in Pittsburgh and Erie, Pennsylvania; Syracuse, New York; and Burlington, Vermont.

Highs in the lower and middle 90s can bake the Interstate 95 corridor, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston.

High humidity and sunshine will make the air feel dangerously hotter.

"AccuWeather RealFeel® Temperatures along the I-95 corridor will top 100 degrees at times on Tuesday and Wednesday,"

according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson said.

Residents will once again have to take the necessary precautions to avoid heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Wear light clothing, drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous activities during the hottest times of the day (the midday and afternoon hours).

"With the school year getting started in many areas, it could be a very uncomfortable few days for students and teachers in schools without air conditioning,"

Thompson stated.

"Some schools may even dismiss early due to the heat and humidity."

By midweek, the nights will become stifling for the urban areas of the I-95 corridor. Temperatures may fail to drop below 80 in the major cities.

"If there is any good news with this weather pattern, it’s that areas that have picked up record rainfall over the past month or so will continue to have the opportunity to dry out,"

according to Thompson.

Most rounds of showers and thunderstorms tracking out of the Midwest will target northern New England, keeping southern New England and the mid-Atlantic largely dry.

That will promote great beach weather for those still enjoying summer vacations.

Construction crews and farmers will be able to work on projects and field work that the weather put on hold frequently in recent weeks. Few sports teams will face delays or cancellations.

For schools that have not started yet, coaches may consider delaying sports practices until the evening hours.

It will be a hot start to the U.S. Open tennis tournament in Flushing, New York. Officials may be forced to use the retractable roof at the new Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Thunderstorms are expected to sweep across the Northeast later Wednesday into Thursday, trimming the heat and humidity for later this week.

There is a potential that the cold front ushering in the more comfortable air fails to cross all of the mid-Atlantic, allowing the steamy air and stormy weather to hang on longer.

Even if the front clears the mid-Atlantic, there are signs of warm and humid air once again returning during the Labor Day holiday weekend.