Providence has its first heat wave since 2022, but will it continue?

PROVIDENCE ? The Providence area had its first heat wave in two years this week when the temperature surpassed 90 degrees on Thursday, peaking at 93, according to the National Weather Service.

To meet the weather service's definition of a heat wave, the temperature must reach 90 or higher on three consecutive days; the Providence area also registered highs of 90 and 91 degrees on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Providence area had no heat waves last summer, but it had two long ones in the summer of 2022. Each went for six days. The first started on July 19 and ended on July 24. The second started on Aug. 4 and ended on Aug. 9.

It seems unlikely that the heat wave will continue because a backdoor cold front will move "in from northeast to southwest Friday...bringing another round of showers and thunderstorms but also breaking the dangerous heat and humidity for much of the region," the weather service says in its forecast discussion.

There's a chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 1 p.m., and then showers are likely and a thunderstorm is possible after 1 p.m., with some of the storms producing heavy rainfall, the weather service says.

Expect a high today near 87 degrees, the weather service says.

The weekend looks "warm and muggy," the weather service says. Rain and thunderstorms are possible both Saturday and Sunday.

"A cold front sweeps across the region Monday with additional showers and storms, then a drying trend and less humid (Tuesday) before heat and humidity return midweek," the weather service says.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI weather: Will Providence heat wave continue for a fourth day?