HV Forecast: Sweltering Temps Cut By Possible Thunderstorms

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Near-record temperatures are going to make Hudson Valley residents sweat today, but thankfully that heat will quickly disappear, as highs in the lower 90s Tuesday will be followed by highs Wednesday in the lower 70s.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous outlook for Dutchess and Ulster counties, predicting a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms Tuesday afternoon into evening. Main risks for any storm are damaging winds and large hail.

The NWS has also already issued hazardous outlooks for Wednesday.

• For Dutchess and Ulster: The Storm Prediction Center has placed a slight to marginal risk for severe thunderstorms across the region on Wednesday, with the highest potential across the Adirondacks and Mohawk Valley. Storms will be capable of producing damaging winds and large hail.
• For Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties: Scattered showers and thunderstorms will likely track into the region Wednesday evening. Locally strong to severe thunderstorms and flooding are possible.

First, the heat.

For Tuesday, humidity levels don't appear too bad, said Alex Marra and Bill Potter of Hudson Valley Weather. "That usually makes for a rather comfortable heat, keeping real feel temps close to the actual air temperature."

Record highs for May 31 are generally in the lower to middle 90s across the mid-Atlantic.

"Forecasters expect temperatures to climb within a few degrees of these highs on Tuesday," said Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist.

Then there's a backdoor cold front moving southward out of eastern Canada and that's going to bring the big change, she said.

"A front that moves to the south or southwest and drags in cooler air along the northeastern part of the Atlantic Seaboard is known as a backdoor cold front, since it moves in the opposite direction of routine weather systems (west to east)," Duff said. "New Yorkers may be able to let Mother Nature do the work in cooling their homes if the front is able to make that much southward progress at midweek. Temperatures may be no higher than the mid-70s for the first day of June on Wednesday, provided the front does not run out of southwestward momentum beforehand."

Here's the workweek weather forecast from the National Weather Service based on northern Westchester:

• Tuesday - Sunny. Highs in the lower 90s. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 20 mph late this morning.
• Tuesday night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 50s. North winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming east after midnight.
• Wednesday - Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers in the afternoon. Much cooler with highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.
• Wednesday Night - Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows around 60. South winds around 5 mph, becoming west after midnight. Chance of rain 60 percent.
• Thursday - Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s. Northwest winds around 5 mph.
• Thursday Night - Showers likely. Lows in the upper 50s. Chance of rain 60 percent.
• Friday - Partly sunny. Showers likely, mainly in the morning. Highs in the lower 70s. Chance of rain 60 percent.
• Friday Night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then clearing. Lows in the mid 50s.