Excessive Heat Warning Remains in Effect Through This Evening

An Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect for southwestern Connecticut through 8 o'clock this evening. The temperature climbed to 91 degrees as of early this afternoon, marking the second straight day the mercury has soared into the 90s. Saturday's high temperature was 94 degrees at 4:55 p.m. EDT, which is the warmest thus far this year.

This is the sixth day the temperature has reached 90 degrees or better at Bridgeport this month. However, there hasn't been an official heat wave, even though the average monthly temperature is 4.1 degrees above normal through yesterday.

This afternoon's heat index value is close to 100 degrees at Samp Mortar Lake in Fairfield.

Things could be much worse, though. Six years ago, southwestern Connecticut experienced an unprecedented seven-day heat wave from July 14 through July 20, 2013. We also experienced a four-day heat wave from July 5 through July 8 that very same month.

Once the heat breaks, flash flooding is a potential threat Monday evening into Tuesday morning. In fact, nearly two inches of rain may fall across southwestern Connecticut through Wednesday at 12 p.m. EDT.

More than three inches of rain fell over the last four days during strong thunderstorms, bringing the monthly precipitation total to 4.24 inches, which is 2.16 inches above normal through yesterday.

One thing is for sure. The weather is never dull. Stay cool.

Paul