Here We Go Again: Another Hot Spell

We've got at least one more hot spell to go this summer here in Vermont and it's coming over the next couple of days.  

Thunderstorms erupt in the distance as 
viewed from St. Albans, Vermont on a 
very humid evening last week. Similar
weather is coming again in the
next few days. 

It has been warm around my area in the Champlain Valley but at least we've had a break from the heat and humidity. At least sort of.

The dew point, a measure of how much moisture is in the air, is also a good indication of how stuffy it feels out there. 

The dew point has been in the upper 50s to around 60 the past three days, which is a level that most people would find comfortable, though perhaps not entirely refreshing. But good enough.

Those dew points are creeping up again. They'll rise through the 60s today, so there will be a humid feel to the air by this afternoon. Monday and Tuesday will be pretty icky. Dew points will be near 70, which by Vermont standards is pretty awful. 

Temperatures will rise, too, especially by Tuesday.  It'll be around 80 today, and n the 80s Monday.  On Tuesday, traditionally warmer places, like the Champlain Valley have a good chance of reaching 90 degrees once again 

If it gets to 90 degrees in Burlington, it would be the 19th such day this year. The record for one year is 26 days, so we're relatively close. We're well into August, so I don't think we'll break that record. We're running out of time for potential hot days. But you never know. 

Nights for the first half of the week will be bad for sleeping too. 

Since we're back in the weather pattern we've been in all summer after a brief break, we have the same precipitation outlook we've had for months. 

That means just hit and miss showers and storms this afternoon and Tuesday, with a lesser chance on Monday. A few towns will get bullseyed by heavy rain, but in most places the ground will keep drying out again because of only light rains.

We did get a nice soaking out of Tropical Storm Isaias last Tuesday, which is turning out to be a great help. If we hadn't gotten that storm, a drought that had been building would be getting worse now. 

Even so, it looks like it's back to watering the gardens again 

That might be especially true from Wednesday on through the end of the upcoming week. By then, high pressure from Canada will keep us dry. 

Usually when we hear "high pressure from Canada" we expect a refreshing cool spell. Not this time.  The weather system of fair weather came across southern Canada, so it will stay warm, but at least not hot. Expect 80s for highs at the end of the week again. 

Enjoy what seems like the never ending summer!