Extreme Heat In MA May Come With Thunderstorms: Forecast

MASSACHUSETTS — Heat advisories are now in effect for almost all of Massachusetts as a new wave of extreme heat ramps up through mid-week, according to the National Weather Service.

The heat advisories will be in effect through 8 p.m. Wednesday, with heat indices — the "feels like" measurement combining air temperature and humidity — forecast to go above triple digits in places like Boston and Worcester. The heat advisories cover all the state except Cape Cod and the Berkshires.

The high temperatures we will experience this week are from the same "heat dome" that sat over the western states last week, breaking some temperature records. The Las Vegas valley was averaging a daytime high temperature of 116.9 so far this month, on pace to break the hottest average recorded in 2005.

The heat in our area will also increase the risk of thunderstorms for each afternoon on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, according to forecasters.

"[T]here will be the risk of isolated strong to severe t-storms. Main threat will be isolated strong to damaging wind gusts," the weather service said in a Monday morning forecast, adding that torrential rains are also possible.

A small bit of relief will come Thursday and Friday, with daytime highs only in the mid-80s. Longer range forecasts show temperatures could rise back into the 90s by Sunday, however.