Steamy conditions over the next several days for Maine

The dog days of summer

I think back to when I was kid in the late 70s. I grew up in Yarmouth on the outskirts of town. August would hit along with the heat. Box fans helped circulate the air around the house but it wouldn't cut the heat any. My mother made sun tea and lemonade, fired up the record player and loaded Neil Diamond's live two album set "Hot August Nights" and let 'em spin. I'd play in the yard, get the sprinkler going in order to find some relief with Neil singing in the background through the open windows. Those were the dog days of summer, and that pattern at home was expected when the heat of August arrived.

As of August 1st, we start heading into cooler times as that day is the peak of average high temperatures across the region. While the next few days may feel like an eternity for those without air conditioning, there are signs of a cool down later next week. When that arrives, it will feel like heaven. 

A sizzler with a touch of smoke,
​along with a shower / storm chance

Thursday 8 AM to Friday Midnight - As heat and humidity moves northeastward, it raises a slight risk of a pop-up shower or thunderstorm. As an indicator of low-level temperature lapse rates, the expected high on the summit of Mount Washington is expected to be in the mid-60s while nearby Fryeburg and Berlin, NH are likely to hit the 90-95° range. A capping inversion of dry air aloft quells a widespread storm threat. With air moving and thus lifting over the higher elevations, interior areas where the cap may be agitated enough to initiate some convection through Thursday evening. With the amount of moisture around, torrential rainfall is likely in any storms, along with gusty winds. The severe risk is very low, but cannot be ruled out given the tropical air mass in place. 

To add haze to the sky, smoke from the wildfires out west dims the sun through the day and moves offshore Thursday night. It could be a great evening to catch a neat sunset. Grab an ice cream and have your cameras ready, especially along the coast! 

Areas of fog over interior areas are expected to dissipate by mid-morning. Looking at early morning satellite observations while factoring in the increase of dew points has me thinking that the fog may hang on over or stay close to the shorelines and islands for MidCoast and DownEast areas, which that would keep those areas cool while interior areas roast.

If you are headed to the beaches, keep in mind space gets cramped by mid-afternoon as the tide comes in. A sea breeze takes the edge off the shoreline areas in the afternoon, but with the humidity it may not bring much relief other than moving the air around. 

Heat indices may reach blast furnace levels of 95-100° for Fryeburg, Sanford, Lewiston-Auburn, Augusta, Bangor and Millinocket as dew points rise into the mid 60s to around 70°. 

Stay hydrated, stay cool and exercise early! 

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Outlook through the weekend and beyond

Friday 8 AM to Sunday 8 PM - An old summer friend, the Bermuda High, appears to flex its muscle over the near future. A slow-moving cold front approaching from the northwest stalls out over the region over the weekend as the High slams the door on any forward progression. This brings hope for the severe drought areas along the coast as it increases potluck shower and storm activity Friday afternoon. Folks heading to the seaside communities and beaches should be aware that is a possibility. 

Waves try to chip away at the blocking high through Sunday and may not have much luck as the cyclone enhances its grip, continues to pump heat and humidity in and fizzles out any widespread shower and storm impacts, keeping those threats isolated, but certainly a possibility to keep in mind and stay on alert for. 

Thursday 8 AM to next Thursday 8 PM - This graphic of precipitable water values shows the Bermuda high spinning steamy conditions into the region that brings in periodic gross to disgusting levels of humidity through the first half of next week. A strong cold front with an associated upper-level trough says enough is enough and is expected to drive the sauna out to sea Wednesday into Thursday.  Hopefully the region gets a decent charge of rain when it does, but time will tell. 

As the Bermuda High contracts, the region gets a bit of a break from the heat on Tuesday, but expect one more surge of high humidity Wednesday before dry air works in Thursday. 

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Stay updated, stay on alert, and stay safe!

NEXT UPDATE: FRIDAY

- Mike

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