Danielle Noyes

What elevates heat wave this from uncomfortable to downright dangerous is the tropical air mass accompanying the heat. And adding to the physical strain is the total lack of overnight recovery.

This isn't just a standard stretch of summer high temps. The area will see a potential six-day heat wave that will test residents' patience, air conditioners and the record books.

If it feels this summer has required more time hiding in the air conditioning than enjoying the great outdoors lately, the data officially backs that up.

This smoke comes from a sudden flare-up of intense wildfire activity in far northern Minnesota and neighboring Ontario, Canada, where hot, dry and windy conditions sparked explosive fire growth. Thanks to a favorable jet stream pattern, that smoke is advecting (moving horizontally) straight into New England's backyard.

An extensive plume of thick wildfire smoke has drifted directly into New England , turning skies a milky, yellow-brown hue and triggering air quality alerts. The source of this dramatic sky is a cluster of aggressive wildfires burning in Ontario, Canada, and northern Minnesota.

Massachusetts shouldn't expect a widespread severe weather outbreak or river flooding, but this multi-day wet stretch will certainly cause its share of travel headaches — especially on the roads and along the coast.

New England is getting a rare, 24-hour astronomical double feature on Wednesday: a partial solar eclipse during the day followed by the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower that night.

If you've stepped outside today and noticed the sky looking a bit pale or milky, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you.

For viewers in Boston and across eastern Massachusetts, the eclipse will unfold late Thursday night into the early morning hours of Friday.

We're not facing a holiday weekend washout. While there may be a few spotty showers and a temporary temperature dip over the weekend, expect a picture-perfect Labor Day Monday.