Thursday Afternoon Update: Not As Hot As Forecast, But Still Ridiculous: Storm Chances Iffy, Brief Tumble In Humidity Sunday?

Thunderstorms just beginning to erupt in the
Champlain Valley on Wednesday. They quickly grew
to severe levels. A much more iffy proposition for
storms this evening after a very hot day, but they
are still possible, 

As of 4 p.m. today, Burlington was up to 95 degrees, so the city won't make it up to that promised 100 degrees. It might go up a couple more degrees, but we won't make it to 100. Not a bummer.

The heat index in Burlington at 4 p.m., though, was 101, due to the humidity. The highest actual temperature I've so far today in Vermont is 96 in Springfield. 

By the way, I'm not in Vermont this afternoon, so I can say how jealous I am of the "cool" weather today up in Vermont. As I write this in Frederick, Maryland, it is 100.4 degrees, so I can say that's the hottest outdoor temperature I have ever experienced. Thu

The heat index here is 109. The actual temperature in Frederick is forecast to top out at 101 degrees both today and tomorrow, 

Back home in Vermont there are a few new glimmers of hope. 

First of all is thunderstorms potential. Given the heat and humidity, storms could pop up at any time or even become severe. But fingers crossed it does not look like severe thunderstorms will be as bad or widespread as they were yesterday. 

There were no storms brewing anywhere near Vermont as of 3 p.m. There was some stuff developing a little southwest of Ottawa. That might eventually move this way or set off some new storms here in Vermont this evening or overnight, but we can't be sure. 

The computer models haven't done a great job in the past few days predicting when, where and how much in terms of thunderstorms. That said, they don't give Vermont much in the way of lightning and thunder today and tomorrow. But I'm still suspicious of those storms near Ottawa.
We shall see!

Some more glimmers of hope for those of you who don't like the heat. And they are just glimmers.

Friday

It will be ever so slightly cooler tomorrow, we think .But still hot with highs at least 90 in most places. Also, the chances of thunderstorms are lower, but still there.  

Saturday, A few more showers, but not a washout. Cooler with highs in the 80s. Maybe a 90 far southeast.

Sunday. Here's the best news yet. The air coming in will be a little drier than first thought. It will still be in the 80s for highs, but the dew point should fall to near 60. Maybe even upper 50s in some spots. That bodes well for Sunday night. If this forecast comes true, we'll have refreshing governing lows in the 55 to 62 degree range. 

It still looks like it will stay quite warm next week. And on the warm and somewhat humid side, too. 

Long range forecasts could change, but for now, it looks like our best shot for  whoosh of truly cool, dry  air would come along a week from Saturday.