Janice R. Andrews
Just in time for Labor Day weekend, a lot of the eastern United States will get a taste of early fall weather. Due to July-like weather, tens of millions of people have been baking in the heat for the past week. Now, a strong cold front is coming in from Canada, bringing much-needed relief for many.
A cold front brings comfort
With a wave of cooler air, the cold front should move across the north central and northeast U.S. this weekend. People in the north-central and northeastern states will be able to take a break from the recent intense heat because of this big change in the weather. Late Saturday night, the front will start to affect the north central U.S., bringing mild weather that will move to the south and east all day Sunday. By Monday, Labor Day, the weather in most of the Midwest will be like fall.
For example, Chicago will experience a big drop in temperature; on Labor Day, highs will only hit the low 70s. This is a big change from earlier this week, when O’Hare International Airport in Chicago recorded a record-breaking 99 degrees Fahrenheit. This big change will be a welcome break from the summer heat, giving people a taste of the weather in late September.
Weather for Roller Coasters Coming Up
This coming cooling is the second big change in temperature that has happened in the northern U.S. this month. In many northern areas, the weather has been all over the place in the second half of August, going from scorching summer heat to cool fall-like conditions. The cooler weather will be nice, but it won’t last long. Because climate change is still having an effect, temperatures are staying warmer than normal into the fall. Soon after this short drop, temperatures will likely rise again.
Recent seasonal predictions say that this trend of quick temperature changes (from warm to cool to warm) could last for most of the fall. The regular changes from warm to cool temperatures are becoming the new normal because fossil fuel pollution is making the Earth warmer.
To Feel the Cooldown in the Northeast
By Monday, the cold front will have moved through the Northeast, but many places will have already seen cooler weather before the front gets there. Along with lots of clouds, Thursday in New York City felt like the middle of September. The high temperature only got to the mid-70s. The Northeast will continue to have cooler, cloudier weather with daily showers over the weekend. This will make the holiday weekend more comfortable for many.
But places farther south, like Washington, D.C., might have to wait until Tuesday for better weather to come. Earlier this week, it was very hot in Washington, D.C. On Wednesday, temperatures hit 101 degrees, which was a new high for the day. The rain on Friday might help with the heat for a short time, but the real and long-lasting cooling won’t happen until early next week, when the cold front moves through.
South Will Finally Get Some Relief from the Heat
All summer long, the southern U.S. has been a hot spot, with temperatures that are often far above normal. But this week, temperatures started to drop in some parts of the area. This was especially true along the western Gulf Coast, where rainy, cloudy weather made temperatures a little lower than normal for this time of year. High temperatures in cities like Houston and New Orleans will stay in the upper 80s until at least the beginning of next week. This will be a small but welcome break from the sweltering summer heat.
Inland parts of the South that have been baking in extreme heat for weeks are also going to get some relief. Atlanta has only had two days this summer with high temperatures in the low 80s. On Tuesday, the city might have weather more like late September for the first time since July. For most of next week, the weather will stay cooler, and there is a chance of storms every day. This will give people a much-needed break from the summer heat.
Many parts of the eastern U.S. will enjoy a welcome taste of early fall this Labor Day weekend, but it’s important to remember that this cooler weather will only last for a short time. Because of climate change, the world is getting warmer, so these changes between warm and cool temperatures may happen more often and be stronger. While this short break from the heat is nice, it also serves as a warning of how the weather is changing, which we are feeling more and more.
