Triple-Digit Heat Wave About To Break

In the Mid-Atlantic, relief from the triple digit temperatures is on the way in an unusual form. An upper low pressure system has developed over the past couple days in the Atlantic, and it is drifting westward--not your typical northern hemisphere movement of storm systems. Nevertheless, it will drift west as the strong ridge over the East Coast also retreats westward a bit Wednesday.

This low will approach coastal Virginia and North Carolina on Thursday, bringing some cloud-cover and also cooler temperatures aloft that will translate to the surface as well with a northeast to east wind. Moisture content will increase as well, helping highs be held down in the 90's in the Commonwealth while this upper low lingers Friday. By Saturday, a cold front tied to a different low pressure system tracking through Canada will move through the region and bring our best chance for rain and storms late Friday into Saturday, as well as milder air for the weekend with highs in the low-90's. We are running about 4.5" below average for our year-to-date precipitation in Richmond. In the extended forecast, another cold front may bring showers and storms to the region next Tuesday and Wednesday, so we'll be monitoring for that potential and provide updates as we get closer to that next storm system.

Here's a recap of our temperatures at Richmond International Airport this week.

High Temperatures:

Monday, July 5: 100 degrees

Tuesday, July 6: 103 degrees

Record to tie/beat for Wednesday, July 7: 103 degrees (1977). UPDATE: High Wednesday 104 degrees, the hottest temperature in Richmond since August 8, 2007.