Sunny but #hazy as #WildfireSmoke returns to #Maine Sunday

An #AirQuality Alert is in place for Sunday.

Emily Pike, August 2, 2025

"Sunday morning lows in the 50s and 60s, with highs in the 70s to 80s. Skies will be mostly sunny, but Canadian wildfire smoke will bring a thick haze for the higher elevations. An Air Quality Alert is in effect Sunday.

"An #AirQualityAlert is in effect from 1 AM to 11 PM on Sunday, August 3, 2025, for parts of #Maine and #NewHampshire due to expected high levels of #ParticlePollution.

"The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has issued the alert for the Western and Eastern Interior regions of the state, including areas in #Franklin, #Somerset, #York, Cumberland, #Androscoggin, and #Kennebec counties. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has issued a similar alert for #Coos, #Grafton, and #Carroll counties.

"Air quality is expected to reach levels that are considered 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' due to a plume of smoke moving in from Canada.

"Those most at risk include children, older adults, people with respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema, and anyone who is physically active outdoors. Even healthy individuals may experience mild symptoms and should consider limiting strenuous or prolonged outdoor activity during this time.

"High pressure is keeping things dry and sunny, which may allow the smoke to linger into next week, thickening into Monday.

"Looking Ahead: Maine is off to a dry start this August. Without significant rainfall soon, #drought conditions could develop, potentially affecting #crops and increasing #FireRisk.

"The 8-day forecast shows only a few chances for showers and slightly below-average temperatures, mainly in the 70s to 80s."

Source:
https://www.wmtw.com/article/sunny-but-hazy-as-wildfire-smoke-returns-to-maine-sunday/65581788

Several #CoolingCenters open in #Vermont, #NewHampshire and #NewYork due to #ExtremeHeat

Rare 'extreme heat warning' issued in Vermont, New York as dangerous heat settles in

by Michael Cusanelli
Jun 23, 2025

BARRE, Vt. — "Several municipalities in our region have opened cooling centers as temperatures will soar close to 100 degrees this week.

"Hinesburg Emergency Management has opened a cooling center at the CVU High School Library. Guests are welcome to visit the cooling center Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"The Middlebury Recreation Building on Creek Road is also open from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. both Monday and Tuesday. The town poll will be open as well from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

"The city of Burlington has several cooling centers available across the city, as well as a shade tent set up in City Hall Park.

"Barre, meanwhile, is opening the Municipal Pool free of charge to all city residents on Monday. Proof of residency is required.

"In New Hampshire, Lebanon is opening several cooling areas for the general public on Monday and Tuesday. Those include the Lebanon Public Library, the Kilton Library and the Lebanon Airport Terminal Building. The Upper Valley Senior Center will also double as a cooling shelter for senior citizens only.

"In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency for Clinton and Essex counties, with cooling centers open across the North Country. The public libraries in Chazy Plattsburgh, Au Sable Forks, Wadhams, Chateaugay and Tupper Lake will be turned into cooling centers. A full list of shelters is available at the New York Department of Health website."

Source:
https://www.mynbc5.com/article/cooling-centers-vermont-new-hampshire-heat/65156676

66 degrees F on 6/6/2025. I remember early summers that cool when I was a child. Very much welcome after 92 degrees. I have a feeling we might not have cool early summers anymore.

I was wondering when the #NortheasternUS would get hit with a #BombCyclone... Ugh!

Developing 'bomb cyclone' with #AtmosphericRiver to blast eastern US

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Dec 10, 2024

"A rapidly strengthening storm packed with a firehose of moisture will swing across the eastern United States through Wednesday night with areas of flooding rainfall, damaging winds and major travel disruptions."

https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/developing-bomb-cyclone-with-atmospheric-river-to-blast-eastern-us/1721970

Here's one for the #ClimateDiary -- a summary of #November2024 in #NewEngland...

#Drought Information Statement for #NewHampshire and #WesternMaine
November

Issued By: NWS Gray Maine

● Fall precipitation (ending Nov 21, 2024) was down 6 to 10 inches, which is 30% to 50% of normal

● Drier than normal conditions started in September and continued into late November

● Most of the region only observed a months worth of rainfall for the entire Fall season

● Precipitation was 2 standard deviations below normal

● One of the top 5 driest falls on record

● Above normal temperatures coincided with dry-period, increasing evaporation and accelerating drought

● Drought conditions have reduced rivers to near record low levels for November based on USGS streamflow station

● Several groundwater monitoring wells are the lowest they’ve been in November for the period of record (30-40 years)

● Climate prediction center drought outlooks favor little change in conditions through the winter season

● Drought is favored to persist, particularly across southern areas

● Note: Once the ground freezes groundwater conditions show little change until the spring thaw.

Source:
https://www.weather.gov/media/gyx/DGT/DGT_GYX_11222024.pdf

Midwest, Northeast to experience hottest weather in years as temps near 100 F

AccuWeather meteorologists have all the details on how hot it will get and how long the sizzling weather will last as the region's first official heat wave of the season kicks into high gear.

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist

Published Jun 17, 2024

"Temperatures will build to their highest marks in years across the Midwest and Northeast and stay at sizzling levels for days as #MotherNature cranks up the heat ahead of astronomical summer, which begins Thursday, June 20, at 4:50 p.m. EDT.

"AccuWeather's long-range team has been sounding the alarm for more than a week on building heat in the East during the third week of June that would put millions at the mercy of a prolonged stretch of 90-degree Fahrenheit temperatures. The longevity of the intense heat will put additional strain on residents and #ElectricalInfrastructure.

"For many in the #Midwest and #Northeast, this week will constitute the first official heat wave of the season, which, in this part of the country, is defined as three or more consecutive days of at least 90-degree temperatures. Heat alerts have been issued for more than a dozen states, stretching from #Iowa and #Illinois to #Maine, as the summer swelter takes shape."

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-forecasts/midwest-northeast-to-experience-hottest-weather-in-years-as-temps-near-100-f/1659800