Get ready to shed the sweater

It’s going to start feeling like summer — the dog days of summer.

It will be a pleasant weekend to attend farmers markets and other outdoor events. Those who visit Easthampton’s Cultural Chaos, an outdoor festival from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, should experience a high in the 80s while they enjoy food, music and performances.

After a stretch of cooler-than-average weather, western Massachusetts is beginning to see an uptick in temperatures that will make Thursday and Friday about average for the season, with highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s, according to Nicole Belk, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

This weekend, though, temperatures are expected to climb past seasonal averages. On Sunday, temperatures may reach the low 90s. Humidity will also continue to increase, potentially driving the heat index to the upper 90s on Monday. 

“Given how cold it’s been, that’s going to be a noticeable increase,” Belk said. 

There is a slight chance for rain Thursday night into Friday morning, a 40 percent chance of rain with some isolated thunderstorms during the day on Friday, and a 30 percent chance of rain Saturday. Partially cloudy or sunny skies are forecast from Saturday night onward.

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