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Forecasters warn heat wave may be ahead

E-mail|Link|Comments () July 2, 2010 12:32 PM

By John R. Ellement, Globe Staff

The first official heat wave of 2010 could soon be upon greater Boston, beginning Sunday when the Fourth of July celebration is held in Boston.

William Babcock, meteorologist at the National Weather Services in Taunton, said today that the comfortable weather of the past few days should last through Saturday.

"It should be a fairly comfortable, warm day on Saturday,'' Babcock said, with the dewpoint in the 50s.

But then it will be pushed aside and an official heat wave – temperatures at 90 degrees or above three days in a row – is likely. The dewpoint will be rising, reflecting an increase in humidity that is projected to last into Wednesday and possibly longer.

"On Sunday we are into the warm air,'' said Babcock. He said temperatures will be around 90 in Boston and a few degrees warmer in the surrounding suburbs. "It's not looking like a lot of relief is coming, at this point, from the sea breeze.''

As hot as Boston may be, the suburbs in every compass direction around Boston could well be hotter, with temperatures easily reaching into the mid-90s, he said.

"The chances of it being an official heat wave along Route 128 is a little bit higher than in the city itself,'' Babcock said.

He said the dewpoint should be in the 60s during the heat wave, meaning that the humidity will be uncomfortable, but not oppressive. But, Babcock added, nightfall won't bring much relief.

"As we get deeper into it, the overnight lows will be closer to 70s,'' he said. The heat could last into Thursday, he said.