The first 46 days of Summer this year have been much warmer than one year ago. There have been 11 days with a high temperature of 90 degrees or more compared to just six last year. There have been two heat waves this Summer compared to none a year ago. We had one heat wave from June 29 through July 1 with high temperatures of 91, 92, and 92 degrees, respectively. The second heat wave happened June 16 through 18 when the mercury hit 91, 93, and 95 degrees on successive days.
Coincidentally, the first half of last Summer and the first half of this Summer each featured 14 days (30%) with measured rain. Last June had four rainy days from June 21 through June 30, while this June featured five days with measured rain, including four in a row from June 22 through June 25. Last July and this July each featured eight rainy days. Last August (through August 5) had two days with measured rain, while this August has seen just one rainy day.
Another warm day is ahead with afternoon high temperatures reaching well into the 80s. The normal high temperature for this date is 82 degrees, while the record high of 90 was established in 2001. A northwest breeze will bring drier air into the region, and the dew point, which was an oppressive 76 degrees Sunday afternoon, will drop into the 50s later today. Tonight will be mostly clear and much more comfortable with a low temperature of 54 degrees inland and 64 along the immediate shoreline.
The humidity will begin to climb once again by the middle of the week, and there is a threat of showers and thunderstorms later in the week and into the beginning of the weekend. The Dog Days of Summer officially end this Saturday, August 11. The 40-day period when the star Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, rises with the Sun ends this coming Saturday. However, it looks like our weather will improve by the end of the weekend.
Paul
