Temperatures are running as much as 12 degrees below average in the Northeast

It’s May and we’re also just days away from the unofficial start to summer, but the Northeast, Ohio Valley, and Mid-Atlantic are dealing with below-average temperatures. What gives?

High pressure is the culprit for this cooler-than-average air mass. And while high pressure usually brings warmer weather this time of year, it all depends on where it originates from.

The high pressure providing the abundant dry weather and sunshine to the Northeast quadrant of the U.S. is sitting over eastern Canada. High pressure has a clockwise rotation, and the placement of this particular high is bringing air straight down from the north and northeast, giving us that cooler-than-average feel.

Due to the late-season chill, overnight temperatures Thursday night into Friday morning could tie or break records from as far back as 1961 across the Northeast.

Not to be outdone, frost advisories, yes, even this late into the season, have been issued ahead of the cooler lows. Gardeners beware. Temperatures are expected to make it into the low-to-mid 30s, and higher elevations may drop below freezing. Brrr!

Even today, temperatures are running as much as 12 degrees below normal for this time of year, and the same is expected for the high temperatures on Friday.

So, when can we expect to see the non-frosty temps? Well, we will have to wait for the weekend, and for some, longer.

As the high pressure slowly makes its way east, the winds will shift for the northern Ohio Valley and Northeast, bringing temperatures up to 12 degrees above normal for the holiday weekend. Talk about weather whiplash.

As for the Mid-Atlantic, the tropical trouble we’ve been eyeing since earlier this week is expected to keep things on the cooler side. In fact, those in the Southeast could see temperatures only making it into the 50s and 60s on Saturday – likely breaking a few cool high-temperature records.

But the high-pressure system over the Northeast will keep all the rain stored for this weekend over the Southeast and mid-Atlantic, away from the Northeast.

As we head closer and closer to the summer season, we know everyone is finalizing their summertime adventure plans. Don’t forget to keep summer safety in mind! We’ve put together a Summer Safety Series detailing tips and tools to help you have a great season.

To monitor the temperature trends through the long holiday weekend, have the latest version of the Weather & Radar app downloaded and ready to go.