Very warm air from tropical regions will flow to the eastern part of the USA along the massive pressure high above the Atlantic. From the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic, significantly above-average temperatures will prevail, locally up to 15 °C above normal.
The temperature peak will occur during Wednesday and Thursday on the east coast. From New York to Florida, temperatures will climb over 30°C, even in areas near the ocean, which are usually cooler. These will be values typical for the warmer summer season.
The highest mercury in the thermometer should rise in the American metropolis of Washington DC and its surroundings. Some models predict temperatures over 35 °C, which is the level of the April record so far. It is therefore likely that it will be overcome.
The Mid-Atlantic will experience some of the hottest conditions in the US this week as summer-like warmth spreads east.
We’ll see just how hot it gets in DC on Wednesday and Thursday. The April record there is 95 degrees. pic.twitter.com/cxeeA4PfWp
— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) April 13, 2026
According to AccuWeather meteorologists, records may also fall in other areas, including large cities such as Philadelphia or New York, where temperatures may also approach the 35°C mark.
There is a threat of strong thunderstorms and tornadoes
Night temperatures are also high this week. Hundreds of stations, especially in the Midwest, broke records for the highest minimums, and in some places there were also tropical nights when the temperature did not drop below 20 °C.
Daily temperatures here are slightly lower than on the east coast, which is related to greater cloud cover and wetter weather. From Texas through the Great Lakes region to New England, there is therefore a threat of a series of very strong storms.
In addition, storms can repeat in the same places several times in a row due to the slowly advancing front. They can be accompanied by intense downpours, strong gusts of wind, hail and, especially in the Chicago area, an increased risk of tornadoes.
In the next few days, the front will slowly move towards the east, and the colder air will gradually displace the warm air. On the east coast, however, temperatures above 30 °C can last until the end of the week. After a significant March heat wave in the west of the USA, the opposite part of the country is now facing a similarly intense episode of heat.
