Heat heads for 100 by Saturday; "relief" next week

Forecasters out at the National Weather Service office in Sterling, Va. are serving up another day of heat, humidity and storms today (Wednesday).  There is lots of warm, wet air across the region, and a disturbance headed this way this afternoon with a weak cold front out of upstate New York. If it reaches us, it could touch off showers and thunderstorms, with a chance for some hail and damaging winds. The storm threat is put at 50 percent.

The tornado threat appears low this time, unlike Tuesday afternoon, when warnings were posted as a small but vigorous storm swept through Baltimore and the surrounding counties.

Skies will be clearer behind the front, but that once the front moves through tonight, high pressure will build into the region, strengthening a good old Bermuda High over the western Atlantic. And that, of course, brings us more sunshine, and more hot, humid conditions as winds sweep up from the southwest around the west side of the clockwise-circulating high.

A 100-degree reading or higher on Saturday would be the sixth triple-digit day so far this summer. That's only happened three times since record-keeping began here in 1871. There were six 100-degree days in 1900, and seven in 1930 and 1988. Stay tuned.

The only good news in the 7-day forecast is that we may actually be in line for some relief next week.

Forecasters say a stronger cold front should sweep through the region on Sunday, bringing more showers and thunderstorms. Behind the front there is noticeably cooler, drier air. That translates into forecast highs of 89 and 88 degrees, respectively, for Monday and Tuesday. That's not what any of us would describe as "cool." It's about normal for this time of year in Baltimore. But with lower humidity, and after what we've been through, it will feel like a gift.

(PHOTOS: Top: AP Photo, Terry Prather, Ledger Independent, Maysville, Ky. Monday/ Bottom: Thanks to Mark Nucker; a sunrise rainbow Wednesday, Greenbelt, Md.)