Potential week-long heatwave begins today
In what has generally been a summer lacking heatwaves, this week looks likely to be an exception. While not everyone in our area will reach or exceed 90 degrees every day, many locations in New Jersey probably will — possibly for five days straight.
Every summer, a feature affectionally known as the “death ridge” sets up in the Southern Plains. It’s a persistent area of strong heat ridging where a trough crashes into the western half of the US, and a consistent source of heat is pumped out ahead of it. Depending on other aspects of the weather pattern, this ridge can expand and/or head northeastward. If upper level winds are slow, and there is another trough to its east to “sandwich” it, then it can stall over an area for a prolonged period of time.
While record heat is unlikely, a stretch of 90+ degree weather is likely over the next seven days.