Maryland weather: Long and intense heat wave begins Monday

BALTIMORE- Our first heat wave of the season begins Monday. Dangerous heat & ALERT DAYS have been issued from Friday through Sunday.

Gorgeous weather continued into this Father's Day with sunshine and highs in the middle to upper 80s. 

We'll see a mostly clear sky and mild weather tonight with low temperatures only in the upper 60s to lower 70s.

Our first heat wave of the season begins Monday. High temperatures will reach the lower 90s with moderate levels of humidity. Areas along and near Chesapeake Bay will see a cooling Bay breeze during the mid to late afternoon hours with highs in the middle to upper 80s. Areas north & west of Baltimore City will experience the hottest temperatures with highs in the lower to middle 90s. 

One spot that will avoid the serious heat this week is down by the Ocean. Towns and communities up and down the Maryland and Delaware Atlantic Ocean shoreline will feel a refreshing and gusty sea breeze each and every afternoon. 

This will keep high temperatures in the upper 70s to lower to middle 80s during the hottest part of the day. So if you're planning to head to the Atlantic beaches, the trip will be well with your time with the amount of relief going to be felt here.

The heat Tuesday through Thursday will gradually ramp up in intensity. We'll see highs in the lower to middle 90s with moderate levels of humidity. Heat index values will reach between 95 and 100. Even though this isn't the most dangerous part of the heat wave, you will want to stay hydrated, take breaks in the shade from the sun, and make sure you're checking in on your pets and the elderly.

The heat becomes dangerous Friday through Sunday with WJZ ALERT DAYS issued for the potential of extreme and dangerous heat. High temperatures will reach between 95 and 100 each afternoon with heat index values 100 to 105, possibly higher. During this time, please avoid long periods of time out in the sun, stay hydrated, and avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages. Overnight lows will also be much warmer with many places only dipping into the middle to upper 70s. Some of the urban centers in Baltimore will not fall below 80 degrees at night.

Isolated strong thunderstorms are possible each afternoon and early evening during the weekend. These storms will be hit or miss, so not everyone will get the cooling and drenching downpours. This means you will need to water your gardens this week. Please water responsibly as we may be entering drought conditions in the next few weeks if we don't start to see rain more frequently. 

The real tough heat should begin to ease next week as the chance for thunderstorms increases and the intense heat dome weakens a bit. While we will see some relief, it still will be hot with highs in the upper 80s and lower 90s