World and Nation

The Heat Is Gone

The Heat Is Gone

The series of hot days beginning last Saturday and ending last Tuesday was very unusual for this early in the season. Intense heating of the land relative to the chilly ocean (still about 60°F at the surface) typically supports a strong sea-breeze circulation, which serves to draw relatively cool air from Boston Harbor into Cambridge. During this heat wave, however, large-scale westerly winds generally did not allow the sea-breeze circulation to penetrate beyond the immediate coast line. The result was very hot afternoons, including as estimated high of 99°F (37°C) in Cambridge last Tuesday.

By comparison, the temperature will be relatively mild over the next few days. Dry conditions will prevail for the weekend, with the possible exception of a few showers and thunderstorms late Saturday night and early in the day on Sunday.

Extended Forecast

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low: 62°F (17°C).

Saturday: Mostly sunny, more humid. High: 82°F (28°C).

Saturday night: Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low: 64°F (18°C).

Sunday: Chance of showers and thunderstorms, especially early in the day. High: 74°F (23°C).

Monday: Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. High: 76°F (24°C).