Cool Summer A Thing Of The Past, At Least For Awhile

An intense snow squall blasts into St. Albans, Vermont
in February, 2022. No snow squalls in today's forecast!

UPDATE: 2:50 p.m. 

Burlington indeed made it into the 90s this afternoon before some clouds and some showers not far away from the city brought temperatures back down to 88 degrees.

So that's the fifth day in a row and six out of seven days this week with 90 degree temperatures. It might still bounce back up to 90 degrees again as skies perhaps clear out more later this afternoon.

We're still on track for a sultry night, another oppressive day Sunday.  There will only be isolated showers and storms for the rest of the day today, but we'll see a rising chance of storms Sunday afternoon and evening. 

In fact, NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has upgraded the chances of severe storms for Vermont tomorrow from marginal to slight, (level 1 up to level 2 in risk category).  They've also added another tornado risk, albeit a low risk. If that forecast results in a tornado warning, that would be the third day within a week in which either a tornado touched down in Vermont or a tornado warning was issued. Quite a hot, active week! 

PREVIOUS DISCUSSION 

Boy, the character of this summer's weather changed fast didn't? 

While the world was sweltering around us, we enjoyed a sunny, breezy, comfortable summer here in Vermont until mid-July. 

Then someone turned on the furnace. 

Today, Burlington, Vermont's high temperature will almost surely go above 90 degrees. Which will mean only one day this week (Monday) failed to make it to 90 degrees.

More heat is definitely on the way. 

I illustrated this post with winter photos, and you can enjoy some winter videos at the bottom of this post. Think of them as sort of a visual Popsicle on a hot day. 

Back in early July, it was beginning to  look like we could have a summer that had fewer than average 90 degree days, but that's no longer the case. Through Friday, we had seven such days in Burlington this year, against an average of six or so for most years.

Or at least that was the average. Recent summers have piled on the 90 degree days, so by some estimates, we should now expect at least ten days a year that reach that magical scorcher 90 degrees.  

It reached 90 degrees 14 times last summer. The year before that was even worse, with 20 such days. 

The record for the most 90 degree days in a single year still stands at 26, in 1949.  It looks like that record is safe this year, unless we have an absolutely insane August and early September. 

Ice covered berries after some freezing rain in St 
Albans, Vermont, January, 2019. 

Though we have some relief coming next week, we still have some torrid conditions to go.  Although Friday was  hot, it was less humid than in some previous days, so it felt a little better.

The humidity will begin to creep up today amid the heat.  The extra bit of humidity could be enough to trigger an isolated thunderstorm or two, probably over the mountains. Then things get interesting.

HOT AND STORMY

We'll slog through another terribly humid and hot Sunday.  Some of us will hit 90 degrees again, depending upon when clouds arrive.

A storm system is set to cause a lot of severe weather in the Midwest today, and that will be approaching us on Sunday.  Some of the initial storms that form Sunday afternoon could be strong to severe, given how humid and unstable the air is.

Snow falls from pine trees in West Rutland, Vermont
after a storm in December, 2017.

Even though it's been dry, we'll have to watch out for possible areas of flash flooding Sunday night. Several rounds of torrential thunderstorm should rumble through.

 Some areas could have too much rain too fast, resulting in overburdened small streams, washouts, that kind of thing. It's not clear yet how extensive this might be and precisely who, if anyone, sees a flash flood.

But it's something to keep an eye on. Especially since any flooding that does develop would start at night, when people are either sleeping and don't get warnings, or are out driving and can't see the deep water ahead of them.

In any event, Sunday night looks pretty sleepless, with the humidity, the downpours, the rumbles of thunder. Kinda yucky.  

The humidity doesn't quite clear out Monday, so it'll be another uncomfortable day, with maybe a lingering risk of storms.

Then, starting Tuesday, things get better. Next week will still generally be a little warmer than average, but not nearly as hot as this week nor as humid. 

Long range forecasts into early August continue to call for warmer than average temperatures, so we'll see how that works out. 

Videos:

An intense snow squall rushes into St. Albans, Vermont, February 27, 2022. Click on this link to view if you don't see image below, otherwise, click on image.

Next, sort of a highlight reel of the Pi Day Blizzard in St. Albans, Vermont, March 14, 2017. Click on this link to view, or click on image below if you see it. 

Next, the dogs check out the snow, and we also slow things down to make a snow globe effect. Click on this link to view or click on image below if you see it.