Few showers Saturday morning, then beautiful, refreshing day Sunday

SATURDAY: A few morning showers then clouds breaking for some afternoon sun. High: 79

SATURDAY NIGHT: Clear to partly cloudy and more comfortable. Low: 58

SUNDAY: Plenty of sunshine and less humid. High: 81, Low: 59

BIG PICTURE

Saturday morning will come with a few showers around the region with most of the steady and heavier precipitation staying to our south. By the afternoon, there should be some clearing and drying working in from the north along with lower humidity. Sunday and Monday look terrific with increasingly dry, comfortable, and sunnier weather returning along with comfier sleeping weather at night. The heat and humidity will turn up by the middle of next week and bring a better chance for wet weather, mainly Tuesday and Wednesday, as a cold front settles into the area.

FORECAST

SATURDAY

Expect cloudy skies to start Saturday with a few showers, especially south of the Lehigh Valley. The wet weather will end from north to south during the first half of the day, and some clearing will dive in during the afternoon. Lower humidity should gradually try to push in from the north as well, but it may not be until very late in the day that many of us finally experience a less sticky feel to the air. If you’re in the Poconos and northwestern New Jersey, however, you’re the exception to the rule, where we expect dry conditions for much of the day Saturday, more in the way of sunshine, and more comfortable humidity for much of the day. In fact, with drier conditions and more sunshine expected for these northern areas, it will probably be a rare case where these spots see the warmest high temperatures for the day in the upper 70s to near 80 degrees. Further south across the I-78 corridor, we can expect highs to reach the mid to upper 70s, and it could actually be even cooler down across the Delaware Valley, South Jersey, and Delaware where clouds and rain hang on a bit longer. Don’t be surprised if some of these southern areas don’t get above the low 70s for highs.

SATURDAY NIGHT

Everyone should see a nice improvement with the weather for Saturday night as a cold front finally makes headway to the south and east of all of the region pushing offshore. High pressure will gradually build in from the Great Lakes flexing its muscles, and this will usher in a nice shot of dry air with much lower humidity. Look for skies to turn out mostly clear with overnight lows dropping back to more comfortable levels for sleeping in the upper 50s to around 60 degrees. It will be nice to shut off the A/C and open up those windows again for the overnight.

SUNDAY AND MONDAY

These pair of days now look like the best 1-2 combo of the forecast, instead of Saturday and Sunday unfortunately. Thanks to high pressure building overtop of the region, we can expect abundant sunshine, refreshingly low humidity, light winds, and comfortable high temperatures. Sunday’s highs are expected to reach the low 80s, then Sunday night will be another refreshing one with mainly clear skies and lows around 60 degrees. Monday gets a little warmer with highs in the mid to upper 80s, but humidity will remain at comfortable levels.

MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK

Temperatures and humidity will be back on the rise as we move into the middle of next week thanks to a return of a southwesterly wind flow. While nothing oppressively hot and humid is expected, it does appear we have a good shot at getting to at or above 90 degrees for the highs certainly Tuesday and perhaps even Wednesday. We can expect a mix of sun and clouds through the period, and we’ll track another slow moving cold front dropping in from our north and west likely generating at least a few scattered showers and thunderstorms later Tuesday into Wednesday, although no washouts are expected. We’re to the point where some spots actually need a little rain, so after tonight and Saturday morning, this is our next best chance.

15 ways to stay cool this summer without AC 15 ways to stay cool this summer without AC Jul 7, 2022

The summer of 2022 is already shaping up to be a hot one. According to a recent analysis from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), May 2022 ranks among Earth’s top 10 warmest months on record. In June 2022, there were 1,995 record daily high temperatures broken across the U.S., NOAA’s data shows. Stacker scoured scientific studies, DIY websites, and even American history to come up with 15 ways to stay cool on warm days without AC.

For anyone not living along the northern edges or mountains of the U.S., the dog days of summer feature weeks—if not months—on end of intolerable heat. Sizzling temperatures have been shown to negatively affect memory, reaction time, productivity, moods, and even suicide rates. One study by Harvard University in 2016 tracked students before and after a heatwave and determined that higher temperatures correlated with decreased cognitive function; another by Stanford University in 2018 studied the links between suicide rates and temperature and ultimately theorized that bumps in temperature from now through the year 2050 may correlate with an added 21,000 deaths from suicide.

For the times we can’t be in air conditioning 24/7, there are thankfully many low-cost, energy-efficient ways to cool off during summer heat that work and don’t involve sitting in a bath of ice water all day. These tricks can make a difference when your attention is required in a classroom or office setting, or if you’re working outside and need relief from the hot sun.

Keep reading to see a simple hack for using skin care products to bring down your core temperature, how hot beverages may actually cool you off, and how to up your use of fans to beat the heat this summer.

You may also like: Song of summer the year you graduated from high school

Unsplash Aloe ice cubes Updated Jul 7, 2022

Despite one’s best efforts to reapply sunscreen as directed, being out in the sun all day can still lead to sunburn and skin damage. The medicinal use of aloe vera to help treat skin ailments can be tracked all the way back to the 4th century B.C. The antiseptic aloe vera is ultimately a wonder plant: In skin care applications it acts as a cleanser, astringent, and moisturizer, and it can stimulate the growth of new skin tissue, while also calming the nervous system. For an extra cooling effect, mix water and aloe vera in ice cube trays, and pop them into the freezer for use when needed.

Alena A // Shutterstock Keep skincare products cold Updated Jul 7, 2022

Whether your skincare routine involves multiple products or just one, keeping them in the refrigerator can make for a refreshing reprieve from the heat. Many lotions, serums, sprays, and masks will even keep their potency for longer when kept cold.

Red Confidential// Shutterstock Stop cooking Updated Jul 7, 2022

There is no better way to heat up a home in the summer than by switching on the oven, burners, or toaster oven. Avoid that entirely by grilling outside, eating out, or switching things up with meals that don’t require the stove on the hottest days. Salads, cold sandwiches, cold soups like gazpacho, and nori rolls are all great options for hot days.

Unsplash Cool down pressure points Updated Jul 7, 2022

A well-placed bandana that’s been soaked in cold water will work wonders to cool you off. Be sure to tie it around a major pressure point (ankles, wrists, neck, or elbows) and it can provide an instant chill.

Galileo30 // Shutterstock Up your fan game Updated Jul 7, 2022

Strategic placement of fans throughout the home can completely change an indoor climate. Window fans pulling in cooler outside air should be positioned on the first floor of the shadiest, coolest side of the home (most likely in a north-facing window). A fan blowing out the window, which will suck warmer air from inside, should be placed on the sunniest, hottest side of the second floor (or same floor if it’s a one-story home or apartment). Ceiling fans should be rotating counter-clockwise (from your vantage point below it)—don’t forget to reverse this direction during cooler months!

mariait // Shutterstock Fill water bottles with ice water Updated Jul 7, 2022

Hot water bottles are built to keep people warm on cold nights, but they can also serve the opposite purpose. Fill your hot water bottle (or a regular water bottle, if that’s what you have) with tap water, put it in the freezer for a few hours, and then sleep with the bottle at your feet. Your feet are one of the most temperature-sensitive parts of your body, so keeping them cool will help the rest of your body stay cool.

mr.kriangsak kitisak // Shutterstock UV window films Updated Jul 7, 2022

While a west-facing home may be perfect in winter, it makes cooling the house down in the summer a bit more challenging. Stock up on reusable UV window film to keep the sun’s harmful rays out and the cool air in (it will also work to keep your home warm in the winter). Tinfoil and space blankets work great for blocking heat from windows, too, and may save you a few bucks.

Chumrit Tejasen // Shutterstock Wear cotton clothing Updated Jul 7, 2022

Cotton is a great fabric for the summer whether you live in the dry heat of Arizona or humid Florida; this light material allows air to circulate without getting trapped in one place, cooling your body naturally. Other fabrics that can help you fight off the sweat are chambray, rayon, linen, and synthetic blends, and lighter colors are generally cooler than darker colors.

Unsplash Eat foods with high water content Updated Jul 7, 2022

Drinking a lot of water is one way to stay hydrated during the summer, but it can also be done through eating foods that have high water content. This includes fruits and vegetables such as melons, cucumbers, lemons, grapes, leafy greens, and berries. Spicy foods prepared with chili peppers are great coolers as well: the chilis increase circulation and cause perspiration. And while ice cream might seem refreshing in the moment, it will only make you feel warmer in the long run—flavored ice is a good alternative.

Unsplash Drink something hot Updated Jul 7, 2022

It seems counterintuitive, but drinking something hot on a warm, dry day can help to cool a body off. A Thermal Ergonomics Lab study found that drinking a hot beverage increases sweat production, which in turn cools the body off. There’s just one caveat—the sweat needs to be able to evaporate in short order. This trick will not work if you’re wearing a lot of clothing that can trap sweat or if the scorching day is paired with high humidity.

You may also like: 50 activities to keep children engaged this summer

Pixabay Close your windows during the day Updated Jul 7, 2022

Strategically opening windows at night when the air is coolest and keeping them closed (with curtains drawn!) during the day is one of the most straightforward ways to keep a home cooler in summer months. This method is most effective if you have adequate insulation in the walls to trap the cooler night air inside. Another window trick is to take advantage of convection: When double-hung windows are open, keep them as such at the top and the bottom. Having the top window cracked allows hot air to escape, while the bottom window being cracked will suck in cooler air from outside.

Unsplash Chill your sheets before bed Updated Jul 7, 2022

Plan ahead for hot nights: fold up a top sheet, put it in a bag, and set said bag in the freezer a few hours before bed. When it’s time to hit the hay, take the sheet out and lay it on top of you. For a last-minute (slightly messier) iteration of the same technique, before going to bed wet down a top sheet in cold water, wring the sheet out well, and put it over yourself.

Unsplash Block the light Updated Jul 7, 2022

In addition to keeping windows closed during the day and open at night, use blackout curtains to trap cool air inside and keep the heat from coming in. They’ve been said to reduce heat transfer through windows by as much as 24%—that’s a lot of degrees when it’s sweltering outside.

Unsplash Practice Pranayama Jun 16, 2021

Pranayama is the practice of breath control—and utilizing it can make you feel noticeably cooler. Two breaths, in particular, that can help are the sitali (“cooling breath”) and sitkari (“sipping” or “hissing”). In the sitali, the mouth is opened into an “O,” and the tongue folded lengthwise into a tube to suck air through. After sticking the curled tongue out almost an inch from the lips, a big breath is drawn in, using the tongue like a drinking straw. This will pull cool air into the diaphragm. After breathing in, the mouth is closed and air slowly exhaled through the nose. The sitkari variation of this breath involves closing the top and bottom teeth together with lips open in a smile. Long, slow breaths are drawn in this position through the teeth and mouth, then the mouth is closed and the breath exhaled slowly through the nose.

Microgen // Shutterstock