Dramatic weather change coming for Tri-Cities. When will we feel the heat?

It’s going to finally feel like summer in the Tri-Cities, with high temperatures expected to jump 30 degrees between the start and end of this work week.

The heat wave that has blistered Mexico for more than a week is moving north over the West, bringing the high in the Tri-Cities to 95 degrees on Friday and 96 on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

It’s a dramatic change from the recent cool Tri-Cities high of 66 recorded on Monday, as a storm system brought 0.62 inches of rain to the Tri-Cities from Sunday through Monday.

With the Tri-Cities fortunate to have cooler temperatures recently, the heat may feel uncomfortable for some people, said meteorologist Mary Wister of the weather service.

It’s possible the temperature could reach 100 for the first time this year Saturday, but chances are slight, Wister said.

The hottest day so far this year was May 11, with a high of 92, according to weather service data.

Although temperatures will be unseasonably warm later this week, they won’t be close to a record breaker. The hottest June 7 recorded in the Tri-Cities was 110 in 1912 and the hottest June 8 was 105 in 2015.

But the temperatures forecast for Friday and Saturday are still about 15 degrees above normal for Tri-Cities.

Nights also will be warmer than usual, giving limited relief from the heat, with a low of 65 on Friday night and 66 Saturday night.

Normal lows for June 8 and 9 in the Tri-Cities are about 52.

Some slight cooling is expected Sunday and Monday with highs of 90 or 91 forecast, which are still above normal.

That may be a preview of the summer months.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a 50% to 60% chance that June through August will be warmer than usual in the Tri-Cities and a 40% to 50% chance that those months will be drier than usual.

This story was originally published June 4, 2024 at 12:45 PM.