Morning Island Report: Severe Storm Watch in Effect

Wednesday will start out much like Monday and Tuesday: Hot and steamy. But a line of late-afternoon and evening showers are bringing cooler temperatures for the rest of the week.

A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for the entire shore area until 9 p.m. Wednesday night, forecasters said.

A cold front is predicted to roll through the region late this afternoon with the potential of sparking thunderstorms. Some storms could be severe, with large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning, said a forecast posted Wednesday afternoon.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday that warns of heat index values (a combination of air temperature and humidity) of 103 to 107 degrees.

The forecast for Wednesday calls for a mostly sunny day with a high of 93 degrees. If Wednesday is anything like Tuesday, the beach will be the best place to take advantage of a cooling southwest wind. And on Wednesday morning — with the breeze already starting — the feel of the air on the beach was substantially cooler than the temps on the streets.

High temperatures for the rest of the week will be in the low- to mid-80s with a mix of sun, clouds and more scattered storms.

The ocean water temperature on Tuesday evening was 74.3 degrees. Southwest winds have been creating small and choppy surf in the afternoons early this week, but the mornings have seen cleaner sets of two- to three-foot waves.

The marine forecast calls for southwest winds of 11 to 17 mph with gusts over 20 mph on Wednesday.

High tide will be 7:41 a.m. on the ocean beaches, and low tide at 1:26 p.m.

Here are some ways to keep tabs on the weather in real time:

•  surf cam at Fourth Street: Surf cam
• The Surfers View surf cam at Second Street: Surf cam
• 48th Street: Beach cam
• Ocean water temperature: At Atlantic City's Steel Pier
• Bay temperature and tide levels at the Bayside Center (Sixth and Bay) in Ocean City