Vermont is forecast to hit temperatures in the upper 80s in the next two days, far above normal for this time of year, the Burlington branch of the National Weather Service reported on Monday.
Parts of the state, particularly the Champlain Valley and Connecticut River Valley regions, could see a high of 90 degrees on Wednesday, according to weather service meteorologist Brooke Taber. That’s 15 to 20 degrees above the average temperature for this point in May.
The spate of high temperatures isn’t quite long enough for the weather service to issue a heat advisory, but Taber said vulnerable Vermonters, such as people with health conditions or people who work outside, should be cautious in the coming days.
“It’s sort of our first heat of the season, too, so we’re not adjusted to the heat yet,” he said. He advised anyone spending time outside to stay hydrated and take breaks.
The good news is that it’s not expected to be uncomfortably humid, Taber said, and the temperature is expected to drop during the night, giving Vermonters some relief from the heat.
Despite the heat, meteorologist Adrianna Kremer warned that water temperatures can still be cold. Lake Champlain, a large body of water, remains in the upper 50s and 60s. At that point, “immersion can be life threatening,” she said.
She said Vermonters pursuing water-based recreational activities should don a life vest and continue to follow basic cold water safety guidelines.
The weather is forecast to take a cooler turn for Memorial Day weekend, with highs in the upper 60s to low 70s, Taber said.
But early predictions for this summer are looking warm, Taber said. The federal Climate Prediction Center has said the Northeast has a high probability of above-average temperatures, based on the outlook of regional weather patterns.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Vermont to see ‘unseasonably’ warm temperatures in coming days, weather service reports.