Latest Timing For 'Ring Of Fire' Storms As Extreme Heat Lingers In MA

MASSACHUSETTS — A fourth and final day of a blistering early summer heat wave across Massachusetts will break late Wednesday into Thursday with the chance of severe storms from what is being called a "ring of fire" thunderstorm system.

After Boston hit an all-time June high of 102 degrees — falling two degrees short of the 114-year-old all-time record of 104 degrees — on Tuesday, Wednesday will be another sweltering one with highs in the 90s and heat indexes near 100.

Reported high temperatures were even more searing across interior Massachusetts on Tuesday with Medford and Methuen both reporting high temperatures of 107 degrees.

"There is an extreme risk of heat-related illnesses through today, especially for those most vulnerable," the National Weather Service said in a Wednesday morning briefing. "Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air conditioned room if possible, avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day, and check up on relatives and neighbors."

AccuWeather reports that a large swath of thunderstorms surrounding the massive heat dome that has engulfed Texas to New England could bring a "ring of fire" to the mid-Atlantic region Wednesday evening.

The pattern is referred to in the weather community as a "ring of fire" because thunderstorms form along the edges of the heat dome, AccuWeather explained. Because the heat dome is warm through most layers of the atmosphere, clouds and storms have difficulty forming.

"However, on the edges of the heat, especially along the northern and western flanks thereof, the air is cooler well above the ground, which makes it easier for clouds to tower and produce thunderstorms," AccuWeather said. "Within this ring, there can be spotty, individual thunderstorms, large clusters of thunderstorms or a solid line of storms that can repeat or meander back and forth as hot and cool air change hands."

The NWS said there will be isolated thunderstorms late Wednesday and a chance of rain on Thursday with high temperatures in the low 70s — nearly 40 degrees lower than the Tuesday highs.

Friday will be cool and refreshing with a chance of showers and a high of 68 degrees.

Saturday will be another cooler day with a high of 72 degrees with occasional showers before another big warm up next week.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)