Sizzling heat expected for first day of summer

As temperatures continue to boil the rising mercury in thermometers throughout the Northeast, the National Weather Service in Burlington has forecasted possible record-breaking heat this coming week.
http://www.eagletimes.com/news/2012-06-20/Front_Page/Sizzling_heat_expected_for_first_day_of_summer.html

Sizzling heat expected for first day of summer By CHRIS GAROFOLO Staff Writer People enjoy the Black River at the Tolles Dam in Perkinsville during a hot afternoon last year. Record heat is expected in the region today and tomorrow with temperatures in the high 90s. PAUL HOWE PHOTO As temperatures continue to boil the rising mercury in thermometers throughout the Northeast, the National Weather Service in Burlington has forecasted possible record-breaking heat this coming week. Meteorologist Conor Lahiff, based in Burlington, said a high pressure system off the south and west is coming north, leading to temperatures rising to above 90 degrees. A stream of moisture is approaching from the Gulf of Mexico, ushering in a series of moist air that will bring dew points into the 60s. “When you combine those two, the hot temperatures and the warm dew point, the heat index will be pretty close to 90 or 100 today,” Lahiff said. “That’s the part that going to be the most concerning for people who have breathing issues or anything like that.” The sizzling temperatures, while are rather unusual for mid-June, are nearing record levels for the month in most places around the Green Mountain State. “It’s certainly not uncommon for us to get a few days in the lower 90s. The record temperatures for the next few days are in the 90s, so it has happened before,” Lahiff continued. “We’re going to be pushing records in a lot of places, but again, it’s not unheard of.” The weather service said today and tomorrow will have temperatures nearing triple digits. And with the humidity steadily increasing, some locations will feel like 100-degrees and could lead to heat-related illnesses in extreme cases. “At least up here, in Vermont and northern New York, we’re not looking at three days in a row of 90-degree temperatures, just two days so not an official heatwave but certainly it’s going to feel warm out there the next 48 hours,” Lahiff said. Temperatures are expected to approach or top 100 degrees this week in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. In western New York, the city of Buffalo opened several spray parks about 10 days early to help residents cool off as hot, muggy weather settled yesterday. Extreme heat can cause problems for anyone but the elderly, children, and people with respiratory ailments are more susceptible to the scorching temperatures. The Vermont Department of Health is encouraging those populations to take extra precautions the next few days. Health officials advise people to avoid strenuous activity, wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothes and drink plenty of water regularly. Additionally, the Agency of Natural Resources said the state’s bodies of water contain more debris following Tropical Storm Irene and swimmers are asked to avoid those areas. • The Associated Press contributed to this report.