Special Weather Discussion

Latest Weather Discussion by Kyle Elliott

* Dry, Tranquil and temperate Through Second Weekend of August *

11:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 5, 2025:

The weather was absolutely spectacular for outdoor activities over the first weekend of August! High temperatures were only in the upper 70s Saturday afternoon and low 80s on Sunday, and overnight lows bottomed out in the mid-to-upper 50s at Millersville University for three consecutive nights. Believe it or not, Saturday morning was the first time the mercury fell below 60°F at the 'Ville since June 16th. That's a stretch of 46 days without a single overnight low in the 50s.. yikes! Anyhow, there were absolutely no showers across the Commonwealth all weekend, and residents could finally turn off their A.C. units and sleep with the windows open at night. What a welcome and refreshing change from the oppressively hot and humid conditions since late June!

The first week of August kicked off on an equally beautiful note with highs in the mid 80s Monday afternoon under mostly sunny skies. A sprawling high pressure system over southeastern Canada and the northeastern United States was responsible for the dry and tranquil conditions over the past several days, and it's going to remain "locked in place" through the end of the week and upcoming weekend. East-to-southeasterly flow on the southwestern periphery of the high will draw some moisture back into the region during the middle of the week. As a result, a thick veil of cirrus clouds will dim the sun both this afternoon and again tomorrow. The center of the high will then build farther south late this week and end up off the New England coastline by Friday. With the system in closer proximity to the mid-Atlantic States, skies will turn mainly clear again Wednesday night and stay that way through the weekend. Humidity will remain rather low over the next 5-7 days, as well, with dewpoints in the upper 50s to mid 60s. High temperatures from day-to-day will be very similar through Saturday and generally in the low-to-mid 80s. Overnights will continue to be quite comfortable and ideal for sleeping with lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s (see below). By the second half of the weekend and early next week, the area of high pressure will likely build farther south and west and become centered over the mid-Atlantic or southeastern United States. Consequently, winds should turn southerly on Sunday and southwesterly early next week. The south-to-southwesterly flow will usher hotter and more humid air back into the region, and high temperatures and dewpoints could be in the low 90s and upper 60s to low 70s, respectively, next Monday-Wednesday. Sunday may essentially be a "transition" day with highs in the upper 80s and dewpoints in the mid-to-upper 60s. The details of next week's potential heatwave are obscure at this distance, but there should be absolutely no threat for showers and thunderstorms until the middle of next week. Let the much-needed dry spell continue! 

The only "fly in the ointment" in this otherwise seasonable and pleasantly warm forecast will come in the form of smoke from Canadian wildfires several thousand miles away. The smoke will cause a slight reduction in air quality through the end of the week. As such, a Code Orange Air Quality Alert is in effect today, and one will likely be issued again on Wednesday and Thursday (see below). Sensitive groups such as the elderly, children and those with respiratory illnesses should minimize strenuous activity and/or outdoor exercise. Smoke and particulate matter (PM) concentrations should gradually decrease from Friday through the weekend, so air quality will improve during that time. Additionally, the general public and healthy individuals won't have to worry about health effects in a "Code Orange" environment. This is not even close to the June 2023 encounter with thick wildfire smoke, and that's great news. Just make sure to lather on the sunscreen over the next 7-10 days to avoid a bad sunburn. Other than that, there won't be any weather-related issues until at least early next week.

Enjoy the break in the action! I certainly will and am welcoming it with open arms.. -- Elliott