Southern New England is experiencing its third heat wave of the summer with temperatures reaching the low to mid-90s, particularly inland areas away from the coast where sea breezes keep temperatures cooler in the 80s. The heat wave is accompanied by increasing humidity, with dew points expected to peak around 70 degrees on Thursday. This rise in humidity is anticipated to fuel scattered, hit-or-miss thunderstorms primarily during the afternoon and early evening hours on Thursday, some of which may cause localized flash flooding due to poor drainage. The cold front moving through the region will break the heat and humidity by Friday, bringing cooler and drier conditions for the weekend. Despite the cooldown, a brief return of heat is expected on Sunday before temperatures trend cooler next week. Air quality alerts for ground-level ozone have been issued during the heat wave. Weather forecasts emphasize the importance of monitoring for thunderstorms and potential flooding through Thursday afternoon.