Cape Cod forecast: Heat wave may last through July

Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times
·4 min read

Just when you thought summer would be a cool walk in the park, Mother Nature is cranking up the steam room. A simmering stretch of warm weather is headed for Cape Cod and some of it will be that wicked sticky stuff that can drive you nuts.

"After an extended stretch of almost early fall-like weather, summer has returned with a vengeance, and appears here to stay at least through the end of July," said the National Weather Service's Boston office forecast discussion. "It looks increasingly likely that we will see our first heat wave of the season by mid to late week ... oppressive heat and humidity will be in control with little nighttime relief."

The upcoming heat wave will likely send folks out in search of spots to keep cool, like this 2018 scene from a hot August day at Scusset Beach in Sagamore.
The upcoming heat wave will likely send folks out in search of spots to keep cool, like this 2018 scene from a hot August day at Scusset Beach in Sagamore.

Daytime high temperatures are expected to soar into the mid to upper 80s at least through July 24. Nighttime lows will be downright toasty, bottoming out in the 70s. The hum of air conditioning, whir of fans and low grumble of complaining will likely fill the humid air.

"We have a heat wave coming in for this week," confirmed National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Kyle Pederson, reached by phone at the Boston office.

Pederson added that most of the week looks sunny and rain-free. This lack of precipitation sure won't help the drought conditions that are plaguing most of the state, although Cape Cod is in the less severe "Abnormally Dry" category, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

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On the bright side, the extended dry conditions have meant "less habitat for freshwater mosquitoes to develop in," said Gabrielle Sakolsky, superintendent of the Cape Cod Mosquito Control Project.

According to the Boston NWS forecast discussion, the Climate Prediction Center's "6-10 and 8-14 day temperature outlook shows high confidence in above normal temps in climatologically the warmest part of the year."

During the week ahead, folks can expect multiple days with high temperatures in the 90s away from the coast. According to Pederson, heat advisories may be issued, especially in areas away from the ocean.

For those looking to keep cool during the hot spell and still enjoy the outdoors, the ocean beaches on the Outer Cape might offer the most relief. According to Gordon Miller, North District lifeguard supervisor at the Cape Cod National Seashore, the combination of a consistent breeze and a water temperature running between 62 to 66 degrees can offer a comfortable spot to chill, even when the rest of the Cape is roasting.

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Here is the Hyannis forecast from the National Weather Service:

Monday: A chance of showers, mainly after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 11 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday night: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 73. Breezy, with a south wind 17 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tuesday: Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 85. Southwest wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 7 to 14 mph.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87. Southwest wind 8 to 11 mph.

Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Southwest wind 10 to 13 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 21 mph.

Thursday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind 9 to 17 mph.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Southwest wind 8 to 10 mph.

Friday night: Clear, with a low around 70. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Southwest wind 8 to 15 mph.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind 7 to 14 mph.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. Southwest wind 9 to 14 mph.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod weather forecast predicts heat wave through end of July