Some of the hottest weather of the summer is set to blanket much of the Eastern U.S., including the tri-state area, in the days leading up to July 4th weekend. A large dome of high pressure confined to the Gulf Coast this weekend will expand to cover a large swath of the country, from Texas and F lorida north to the Great Lakes and Northeast by Wednesday. The “dome” of high pressure promotes stable air, lots of sunshine, and traps heat near the surface. Temperatures early in the week will be in the 80s, but by as early as Wednesday, New York City will top 90 degrees with high humidity. The air will feel tropical, and that humidity will send the heat index into the triple digits. Wednesday and Thursday will probably be the most extreme days, with only slight improvements by Saturday, July 4th. High temperatures could reach triple digits in the mid-Atlantic states, including Washington, D.C., by the middle of the week. And that doesn’t factor in the humidity.  The “feels like” temperature will be several degrees higher than the air temperature. Make sure to stay hydrated throughout the week, dress in light, breathable clothing, and don’t spend a lot of time outside.  If you must be outside, seek shade and keep your activity level to a minimum. ...read more read less