Forecast: Our Week Of Sweltering Heat Is Over — At Least For The Weekend

Our week of blistering summer heat ends today — at least for a little bit.

Five of the last seven days have seen temperatures at or above 90 degrees in Boston. (Three consecutive days or more of 90-degree weather is the technical definition of a heat wave; so, the city didn't exactly experience a week-long heat wave.) Other inland areas, however, were gripped by seven consecutive days of 90-degree weather. That's a pretty prolonged heat wave for this part of the country.

If the last week has felt uncomfortable, you'll likely feel better this weekend as the highs and humidity drop.

A cold front leads the edge of the Canadian air heading our way, which along with cooler temperatures, will bring showers and thunderstorms. I'm not very optimistic we'll see a lot of rain, even though there is a lot of moisture in the air. While today's showers or thunderstorms may contain heavy rain or downpours, they'll be moving quickly and not all of us will see them. The National Weather Service posted a flash flood watch for many eastern Massachusetts towns and cities, and it will be in place through this afternoon.

The weekend will be drier and not as hot, but there is more hot weather on the way.

Many places will reach the mid- to upper 80s on Sunday with the low humidity. By Monday and Tuesday, a lot of us will see 90-degree weather once again.

As next week warms up, this will exacerbate the area's already dry conditions and push some areas further into a drought. We'll have to see how that manifests itself next week.

This stretch of heat doesn't look like it will last as long — or be as intense — as this past week, but it is July. Fierce summer heat in our warmest month isn't a surprise.

You can follow my updates here and on Twitter @growingwisdom.

Friday: Lots of clouds, warm and humid. Highs in the 79-84. Potentially strong showers or thunderstorms from late morning through mid-afternoon. Some temporary street flooding possible.

Friday Night: Clearing and cooler. Great sleeping weather. Lows 55-60.

Saturday: Sunshine. Pleasantly warm. Highs 74-80.

Sunday: Sunshine. Temperatures in the mid- to upper 80s. Cooler Cape Cod.

Monday: Sunshine, warm. Highs 87-91.

Tuesday: Sunshine, warm. Highs 87-91.