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Summer Is Over??

2015 MeteorologicalSummer

From Skyfall, "this is the end-hold your breath and count to ten". No, not true. This is just the final day of August and the ending of so-called Meteorological Summer comprised of the months of June, July and August. June started out very cold with the lowest high temperatures on record on the first two days at 49 degrees! The high for the month was 88 degrees on 2 days. July was slightly warmer than average but the 4 days at 90+ was two less than average and it was much drier than June. August has been much warmer than average with 5 days at 90+ which is 2 more than average. The month was still on the dry side so we need rain but hardly a drop is anticipated in much of our region this week.

2015DAYS90After yesterday's max of 88, Boston's high should reach 91 today making it the 10th day this year at 90 or higher. Since early spring, I have been predicting 10-12 of those days this year. While many locations will have 3 or 4 days at 90 or so this week, Boston's official temperature at Logan Airport will probably not have any more 90s after today thanks to daily breezes in from the ocean. The first week of September 2014 was hot as well with 3 non-consecutive days in the city over 90! While September can be hot, heat waves are rare. Over the last 140 years, only 3 have occurred in Boston! A very notable intolerable heat wave occurred in 2010 from Aug 29-September 2 with the respective highs of 94, 92, 96, 94 and 95. Whew! That was the summer coming off a rather strong El Nino and Boston ended up with 24 days at 90 or higher which is 10 above the average. I suspect next summer could be much hotter than the past two summers have been so I am going to finally splurge and have ductless a/c units installed in my home! I'm just saying!

euroFridayThe upper air pattern this Friday supports high pressure building out of eastern Canada so we should get a break with more refreshing air and a breeze coming right in from the northeast. Consequently, the upcoming holiday weekend will feature lots of sunshine with highs in the 70s along the coast to the 80s farther inland with overnight lows in the 50s and 60s. On Labor Day, it looks like the ridge of high pressure will build to the south of us enabling the hotter and gradually more muggy air to return. The temperature could be nudging 90 again for 2 or 3 days.

 

euroWEDLooking way ahead, the upper air ridge to the west is progged to collapse so a sprawling area of high pressure and delightful air will stream in from the Great Lakes the second half of next week. That's sticking my neck out pretty far but it looks plausible at this time.

Meteorological fall begins tomorrow with the official astronomical beginning of fall occurring at the autumnal equinox on September 23rd at 4:21am.

Make it a great week!

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