East Coast Heat Wave This Weekend?

Break out the shorts and the air conditioners: It's going to be a scorcher across the East Coast this weekend. A big ridge of high pressure will help to pump up warm, humid air from the South, sending temperatures into the 90s for many spots. For places like New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C., this weekend will likely be the hottest stretch so far this year. It's not just the air temperatures - they'll be in the low-to-mid 90s for highs in the big cities on Saturday and Sunday - but the combination of those temperatures with the humidity that'll make it downright oppressive. Heat indices, or what it actually feels like on your skin when factoring in both humidity and temperatures, will likely rise to 100° or above on both weekend days. Cooler weather won't return until early-to-mid next week, with highs in the 90s likely through at least Monday of next week. A heat wave is officially defined as having three or more consecutive days with highs of 90° or above. With a full summer sizzle on its way, it's worth keeping in mind some heat safety tips, including drinking plenty of water, wearing light-colored clothing and limiting your time outdoors during peak heating hours. Stay with WeatherNation for the latest. For WeatherNation: Meteorologist Chris Bianchi