Here comes the sun! Summer scorcher on the way as La Niña finally brings in warmer air... but there's more rain due first

  • More cold weather, wind and rain for most of the country this weekend
  • Unsettled weather will remain until midweek when it will start heating up
  • La Niña will bring warmer air starting in June for much of the nation
  • Hot weather expected to remain through July, August and into September

By Chris Pleasance For Dailymail.com

Published: 03:59, 21 May 2016 | Updated: 04:21, 21 May 2016

Winter may be long behind us but for many it feels like spring has yet to really get started.

The good news is that summer is well and truly on the way and, for most Americans, it is set to be another scorcher with above average temperatures.

However for most of the country there is more rain and cold weather to endure over the weekend and early next week before the heatwave gets underway.

Here it comes: As the cooling effects of El Niño drop away toward the end of this month, La Niña will start to bring above average temperatures starting in June

Here it comes: As the cooling effects of El Niño drop away toward the end of this month, La Niña will start to bring above average temperatures starting in June

Scorcher: July and August are set to be above average for most of the country continuing a run of exceptionally warm summers, and could even last into September

Scorcher: July and August are set to be above average for most of the country continuing a run of exceptionally warm summers, and could even last into September

The lingering effects of El Niño have meant temperatures of between three and five degrees below average for most of the country this month, according to Accuweather.

Rain, wind and storms are set to continue along with colder than average weather for this weekend and into next week, forecaster Dan Pydynowski said.

The exception will be the Midwest where an area of high pressure will bring a surge of warmer weather, meaning t-shirts and sunglasses may need to be brought out.

Indianapolis, St. Louis, Chicago and Minneapolis could see highs into the 80s at the start of next week, Pydynowski said, though this will not be the case further east.

However, there is still a weekend of rain, storms and wind to get through for most of the country first, with the exception being the Midwest which will see an area of high pressure bring temperatures up into the 80s

However, there is still a weekend of rain, storms and wind to get through for most of the country first, with the exception being the Midwest which will see an area of high pressure bring temperatures up into the 80s

A cool pocket of air will see the warmer air avoid most of the East Coast over the weekend, bringing storms and rain, though temperatures will increase from Wednesday and might stay warm until Memorial Day

A cool pocket of air will see the warmer air avoid most of the East Coast over the weekend, bringing storms and rain, though temperatures will increase from Wednesday and might stay warm until Memorial Day

Rain and clouds could keep temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees below average from Boston to New York City and in Washington, D.C. this weekend, with rain forecast into early next week.

But by midweek things will start hotting up, with highs into the 80s possible by Wednesday, and that weather could stick around until Memorial Day.

Then as El Niño drops away La Niña kicks in, bringing above average temperatures for most of the country during June, with scorching heat possible across the northwest and Great Lakes.

Across July and August that band of very hot weather shifts even further south, according to The Weather Channel, with above or significantly above average temperatures for most people.

Forecasters say this summer will continue the trend of unusually warm summers over the last six years, with temperatures even topping the record-setting 1930s (file image)

Forecasters say this summer will continue the trend of unusually warm summers over the last six years, with temperatures even topping the record-setting 1930s (file image)

La Niña will bring the heat through July and August, with forecasters saying they expect 'back-loading' of warm weather meaning conditions could last until September (file image)

La Niña will bring the heat through July and August, with forecasters saying they expect 'back-loading' of warm weather meaning conditions could last until September (file image)

The only exception will be across much of Texas and Louisiana where temperatures are likely to end up near or slightly cooler than average.

Dr. Todd Crawford, chief meteorologist, said: 'The last six summers have been the hottest six-year stretch in the last 120 years, barely eclipsing the very hot 1930s.

'We expect that the full La Niña forcing will not be in place by June, but will come roaring into play by July and, especially, August. 

'We expect a strongly "back-loaded" summer with the heat continuing into September.'  

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