MA Weather Forecast: Heat Wave End In Sight

If you've stepped outside today, you can likely tell we've entered Day 7 of a heat wave in some parts of the state. But forecasters say relief is on the way.

Temperatures soared past 90 degrees across parts of Massachusetts yet again Wednesday, extending a stretch rarely seen in these parts.

Thursday could be this heat wave's last hurrah — and even Wednesday in certain areas, such as Boston — as a cold front is expected to bring rain and thunderstorms to Southern New England Friday. Temperatures Friday are likely to max out at 85 degrees in most areas.

Conditions dry up for the most part on Saturday and Sunday with dew points dropping into the mid to lower 60s, highs in the lower 80s, according to NECN meteorologist Aaron Perry.

"Definitely an improvement," he told Patch.

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Technically, Perry said, a heat wave is five or more straight days "where the observed maximum temperature exceeds the climatological maximum temperature by nine (or more) degrees." In New England, he said, it's commonly accepted as three or more straight days of 90-plus degrees. By either definition, Massachusetts is in Day 7.

Whether it ends Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, this sort of heat wave is rare. Here's a look at the seven- and eight-day heat waves since records began in 1936 (temperatures recorded at Logan Airport):

Seven-Day Heat Waves

1983: July 14th-July 21st

1988: August 8th-August 15th

2013: July 13th-July 20th

Eight-Day Heat Waves

1944: August 9th-August 17th

1994: July 18 th -July 26th

2002: August 10th-August 18th

Date provided by NECN