Summer 2024 Could Be Hot And Sticky In MA

MASSACHUSETTS — Summer 2024 could be sweltering in Massachusetts, according to a seasonal forecast Wednesday from AccuWeather that calls for sizzling weather ahead for most of the country.

Boston could see as many as three to four times as many days of 90-degree heat as in 2023, according to AccuWeather. That, coupled with possible drought conditions, could also make the conditions ripe for wildfires in the northeast.

The private weather company said some areas of the country have already seen temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, more than a month ahead of normal and the start of meteorological summer on June 1 (the official start of the season is on June 20 with the summer solstice). Phoenix had its earliest 100-degree day on record.

Temperatures are forecast to be about 2 degrees above historical averages for more than half of the country from June to August. That comes on the heels of the warmest year on record in 2023.

The Boston metropolitan area could see 16-22 days with 90-degree or higher temperatures. Last year, the mercury hit the 90-degree mark on five days.

Areas from the Plains to the Northeast could see scorching heat waves. The hottest areas, when compared with historical averages, could be over the Great Lakes, Upper Midwest and Southwestern Plains, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

At the same time, rain over the Pacific Northwest is expected to reduce the chance of a long heat wave in places such as Seattle and Portland.

Overall, showers and thunderstorms may bring some periodic relief from the heat in June and July, but drier weather in August could bring scorching temperatures, he said.

Heat could fuel strong storms, AccuWeather said. In Massachusetts, severe weather is expected to peak in July.

“Severe weather events can be frequent in June and part of July,” Pastelok said, adding the risk includes derechos, or “inland hurricanes” with sustained winds of 58 or more mph, with gusts of up to 100 mph, over an area more than 400 miles wide.

The annual monsoon season in the West is expected to start later than usual. While rain can bring relief from summer heat, it carries an accompanying risk of flash floods and wildfire-igniting lightning.

The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be especially active and exceed 30-year historical averages, and the first storm could spin up before the official start of the season on June 1, AccuWeather said.

AccuWeather meteorologists are forecasting between 20 and 25 named storms across the Atlantic basin in 2024, including eight to 12 hurricanes, four to seven major hurricanes, and four to six direct U.S. impacts.

“There is an increased flood threat for the Gulf States as a busy tropical season is anticipated with one or two threats in the summer season,” Pastelok said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also predicted a strong Atlantic hurricane season for 2024.