A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for parts of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut until 10 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Here’s a breakdown of the weekend weather:

Check the latest severe weather alerts for your neighborhood here.

Sunday

Similar to Saturday, Sunday begins rain-free. And this will be another morning where you won’t want to spend much time outside. Humidity will be miserable and temperatures will be in the 90s by midday.

New York City issued an air quality health advisory for sensitive groups — such as older adults over 65 or children younger than 14, pregnant individuals, outdoor workers, and those with medical conditions — from 11 a.m. through 11 p.m. Sunday.

Wind damage will be the main threat with the storms on Sunday. The risk is there for tornados but conditions for twisters are more likely in northern Connecticut.

Starting in the early afternoon scattered storms will again make their way through the area.

Unlike Friday and Saturday, the placement and intensity of the storms does not favor one specific region. And as such, the chance for severe weather is area-wide.

These storms have the potential to bring along damaging winds as well as the chance for hail.

Keep in mind, these wind gusts can reach up to 60 mph and are strong enough to knock down tree limbs and impact power lines. Hail up to an inch in diameter can result in minor damage to property.

Unfortunately, this cold front does not do too much in terms of dropping our temperatures.

We’ll have to wait until the end of next week for that.

10-day NYC weather forecast

A large area of high pressure has been sitting over the region, keeping the weather pattern stagnant and forming a heat dome.

Heat domes are responsible for prolonged periods of hot weather. They can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how long it takes the high pressure system to move out.

How heat domes work:

High pressure systems are characterized by sinking air. This sinking air typically means no-rain, fewer clouds, and lots of sunshine. Under these conditions it is easy for temperatures to rise, facilitating a stretch of quiet and warm weather.

But if the high pressure system does not move, it starts to act like a lid, trapping in the warm air.

That warm air then sinks, compresses, and reheats on repeat, cranking up the temperatures and humidity for those living under the influence of the heat dome.

And that is what has been happening here. We’ve got high pressure sitting just offshore, keeping us under its influence.

A few storm systems get near our area, but high pressure keeps them mainly north.

It is not until a cold front comes through late on Monday that we see any kind of relief from the heat and humidity.

But even that relief will be short lived. We are likely to experience above average temperatures through the end of June right into the start of July.

More than 70 million people in the United States are under extreme heat alerts Tuesday as a heat wave moved eastward, and the Northeast is likely to see highs in the 90s by mid-week. That stretch should last a few days.

Excessive humidity will make it feel even more oppressive.

New York City’s Office of Emergency Management said Monday it is activating its heat emergency plan for the first time this year. Cooling centers will be open Tuesday. Here’s what we’re looking at.

Dew point temperatures across the region are about 10 to 20 degrees higher than this past weekend. And this makes a big difference in how tolerable temperatures can be.

The higher the dew point, the more moisture exists in the air — and the more uncomfortable you will feel outside.

On Tuesday, much of our area will be under a heat advisory, with feels-like temperatures as high as 95 to 100 degrees. Try to limit time outside and avoid prolonged exposure to the heat.

See the latest weather alerts for your neighborhood here.

By Wednesday, much of New Jersey is facing an excessive heat watch, with feels like temperatures reaching as high as 105 degrees. This watch remains in effect through Saturday, while the rest of the area, save for Long Island and the 5 boroughs, remains under a heat advisory.

This level of heat and humidity can be dangerous to anyone, especially over a several-day stretch. But seniors, children, and those with chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes and cognitive impairment are among the most vulnerable. People with mental health conditions may be more at risk too, the city says.

If you know someone to whom any of those vulnerabilities apply, be sure to check in on them this week.

Air conditioning is the best way to stay safe and healthy when it is hot outside, but some people at risk of heat illness do not have or do not turn on an air conditioner. People without air conditioning should identify their Cool Options, which are indoor air-conditioned places open to the public like libraries, malls, and museums.

Here are all the spots to get relief, from public beaches to pools, cooling centers and more.

And it’s not just people. Watch out for your four-legged friends as well; they struggle with the heat like we do.

Keep time outside to a minimum and avoid asphalt; it gets too hot for their paws.

Temperatures peak on Friday as we get close to record-level heat in some spots.

There’s also the chance for a few PM showers and storms to come through, but this will not be the system to knock down humidity or cool our temperatures appreciably.

We’ll see some slight improvement into the weekend, but highs and humidity remain above average. It is not until early next week that a cold front finally brings some much-needed relief.    

“A heat wave can be more than just uncomfortable, it can be deadly and life-threatening if you are not prepared,” NYC Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement, in part. “I encourage all New Yorkers to have a plan to beat the heat and make sure to check in on your neighbors, especially your older adult neighbors, to drink water, and to keep pets hydrated.”

Take it easy this week. It’s only June. And we’ve still got a lot of summer left ahead of us.

Storm Team 4 says the second half of June is projected to be a scorcher. (Pssst. Technically, we’re there.)

Regardless of what’s in the forecast, 2024 already ranks third as the warmest year-to-date. And there are no signs we’ll be dropping in rank anytime soon. We could jump to first before the month is out.

The U.S. last year saw the most heat waves, consisting of abnormally hot weather lasting more than two days, since 1936. Officials again warned residents to take precautions.

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Storm Team 4 says the second half of June is projected to be a scorcher. (Pssst. Technically, we’re there.)

Regardless of what’s in the forecast, 2024 already ranks third as the warmest year-to-date. And there are no signs we’ll be dropping in rank any time soon. In fact, we could jump to first before the month is out.

So for the many New Yorkers who don’t have central air conditioning or any sort of A/C units in their homes, what are the options for them to keep cool during the dangerous heat?

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The city has opened more than 500 cooling centers that it employs during particularly hot days when a heat advisory is issued. The centers are open to the public and are located in libraries, older adult centers and more. However, keep in mind that some cooling centers (like ones in public libraries) will be closed in observance of Juneteenth

For a map and full list of cooling centers throughout the five boroughs, click here. Residents can also call 311 for more information on cooling centers closest to them.

If cooling centers aren’t your thing, the city’s public pools are a safe bet. Those are scheduled to open to the public on June 27.

There is also a long list of other cooling features available through the NYC Parks Department. Those include spray features and splash pads that provide summer fun for children, and are open whenever temperatures top 80 degrees.

For a map of available spray features and outdoor pools, click here.

For more information on what pools are open, what items to bring and not bring, and other rules, click here.

There are also 14 miles of beaches in New York City, according to the Parks Department, which this year will be open until Sept. 8. Swimming is allowed when lifeguards are on duty, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day.

For a list of the free NYC beaches open to the public, click here.

Of course, there is also the time-honored NYC tradition of using fire hydrants to keep cool — but city residents are not allowed to open a hydrant on their own. Instead, they can request a spray cap be added to a hydrant by a local firehouse.

Those looking to get a hydrant cap must provide contact information to the city’s Department of Environmental Protection. Those interested must be over 18, and can go to a firehouse, show ID, and fill out a form. For more information, click here.

The mayor also encouraged people looking to stay indoors to take advantage of the many places throughout the city that provide air conditioning on a regular basis regardless of the conditions outside.

For more information on how to keep pets cool and safe during a heat wave, click here.

For more information on what the signs of heat stroke and heat exhaustion are, click here.

Temperatures are heating up. And Friday is all about the sticky, sweaty, and stormy weather.

After a relatively quiet morning and early afternoon, tri-state weather started to become unsettled from during the late afternoon, and is expected to stay that way through the early evening.

When you step outside, you’ll be able to feel the stickiness in the air.  High humidity means there’s a lot of moisture in the air to fuel heavy downpours.

It wasn’t until the afternoon and early evening, as a cold front approaches and temperatures peak for the day, that the strong line of storms started to move through our area. But the timing will vary depending on your location.

For those farthest north and west in the Hudson Valley, storms started popping off in the late afternoon with some storms lingering into the start of the evening commute. All severe thunderstorm warnings had expired by 7:30 p.m., though a severe thunderstorm watch remained in effect for much of New Jersey until 9 p.m.

For the Lower Hudson Valley, north and central New Jersey, Connecticut and New York City’s five boroughs, timing falls during the peak evening commute, until 8 p.m. If you need to be on the roads at this time, be prepared for slowdowns and make sure to budget extra time. Drive carefully and expect to see ponding on low-lying roads.

South Jersey and Long Island can anticipate the bulk of their storms to come through between by 10 p.m. This will interfere with the evening commute and any plans to drive down the shore ahead of Father’s Day weekend.

In terms of travel delays, the NYC-area airports were seeing delays of nearly two hours due to the storms Friday evening.

There were reports of some downed trees and localized flooding throughout parts of the tri-state, but no severe damage had been reported.

No matter where you are, these storms have the potential to be severe, with damaging winds and hail as the chief concerns. Wind gusts could top 50 mph

Winds of this strength can damage trees and knock down power lines.

Large hail produced by this system may reach an inch in diameter and result in minor damage to property.

Most will see less than half an inch of rain from these storms, though parts of the Hudson Valley and New York City could see closer to an inch or more.

The speed of this system keeps rain totals manageable and reduces the risk for widespread flooding, though isolated minor flooding is possible.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also issued an advisory regarding the storms, with flash flooding, dangerous travel conditions and power outages all possible.

Air quality alert issued

In addition to the threat of severe weather, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality health advisory for the New York City metro region from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Friday. The primary concern is ozone, according to the DEC. The Air Quality Index is expected to hit levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Check the latest weather alerts for your neighborhood here.

Active children and adults and people with respiratory problems, like asthma, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors, experts say. Officials also suggest more breaks. It advises people to watch for symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath and to follow the action plan they’ve pre-determined with their providers.

Storms are completely out of our region before sunrise on Saturday. Clouds clear, humidity tumbles, and we’re left with a gorgeous weekend, including a picture-perfect Father’s Day.

Heat wave on deck

The first potential heat wave for 2024 may hit from Tuesday to Friday, with elevated humidity levels making it feel even hotter — as heat index levels could top 100 degrees.

“New Yorkers should take every precaution they can over this next week to stay cool and stay safe as the combination of severe storms, heat, and humidity will pose a significant health risk for vulnerable New Yorkers,” Hochul said.

The yellow haze blanketed Boston and draped it in powder on Monday. It was seen overhead by NBC10 Boston SkyRanger helicopter pilot Ed Hughes. It helps illustrate why the plumes of powdery substances were so dense, too.

The tinted sky was brought on by pollen but facilitated by what’s known as a temperature inversion in the air.

A temperature inversion is caused by cooler air nearest the ground, and warmer air a few hundred meters into the atmosphere. This inversion acts as a cap, or lid, trapping pollutants and pollen at the ground where we live.

Because of warmer winter and spring months brought about by climate change, the growing season for pollen producing plants and trees has lengthened too, extending the season for allergy sufferers.

Brian Lowell said his truck was coated and caked in pollen nearly two hours after washing it.

Filthy fine particles fly through the sky

In a region known as the jet stream that sits 4-8 miles into the sky (where planes fly) winds are up to 250 miles an hour. This region in the upper atmosphere can transport pollen from nearly 500 miles away!

Pollen so thick it threw off weather sensors

On Monday afternoon, the National Weather Service posted on X, “visibility has been reduced and a ‘ceiling’ group has been observed around 1-2k ft, for the last hour!”

The pollen is thick enough to show up in the observation in Taunton! Visibility has been reduced and a "ceiling" group has been observed, around 1-2k ft, for the last hour! pic.twitter.com/vo3akAusbV

— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) June 3, 2024

Relief is on the way, but not soon enough!

Pollen will weaken just a touch on Tuesday as an east wind dries out some of the air, but this won’t be a significant lowering. The better chance of relief is Thursday, as widespread and heavier rain develops, with multiple opportunities for showers through the weekend.

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