EAST HARDWICK – Last week lived up to the guarantee of oppressive humidity and excessive heat. Montpelier, as one of our nearest long-term observation stations, tied record highs on both Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday’s high temperature of 90 degrees also occurred the year record-keeping started there in 1949. On Wednesday, a high temperature of 92 degrees was the warmest to occur on July 1 since 2018.
Locally, high temperatures reached about 91 degrees in Hardwick, with heat indices pushing 100 both days. 0.39 inches of rainfall was recorded during the forecast period, most of which fell on Wednesday with the approach of some evening showers and thunderstorms. Tree damage from a severe thunderstorm was reported along Town Hill Road in Wolcott.
Cooler air filtered in during the weekend and provided some relief, which persisted at the start of the work week. Some increasing clouds from a storm system to our south kept temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s.
The ridge responsible for pushing the precipitation shield south slides east today and a frontal boundary approaches from the St. Lawrence River Valley tomorrow. Humidity will increase ahead of this front. This will cause scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the afternoon, with some steadier showers as the front crosses New England into the middle of the day on Friday,
Following the passage of the front, a large area of high pressure moves in for the weekend, with sunny skies and seasonable temperatures returning. Dewpoints during the weekend will remain in the low-to-mid 50s, meaning comfortable humidity and an excellent opportunity for outdoor activities. Here are the forecast details:
Wednesday: Mostly sunny. High: 84. Low: 60. Calm wind.
Thursday: Mostly sunny. Increasing clouds in the afternoon with scattered showers and thunderstorms. High: 85. Low: 62. Southwest wind around 5 mph,
Friday: Mostly cloudy, becoming partly sunny. Showers likely in the morning. High: 78. Low: 55. Northwest wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Sunny. High: 78. Low: 56. Calm wind.
Sunday: Sunny. High: 83. Low: 58. Calm wind.
