Hot, Hot, Hot: Summer Heat Roasts the Seacoast

The dog days of summer have arrived with oppressive heat and humidity, and little prospect of significant precipitation to help with the drought.

Above-normal temperatures are expected for the Seacoast through at least the start of the weekend with temperatures in the 90s, according to meteorologist Jerry Combs with the National Weather Service in Gray, Maine.

"Whenever we get these south-southwest winds, they tend to bring hot and humid air to the region," Combs told Seacoast Current.

Combs expects temperatures in the low to mid 90s combined with dew points in the low 70s to make it feel oppressive on Wednesday and the first half of Thursday. A cold front will move through Thursday afternoon and evening, bringing a chance of showers and thunderstorms.

"Once that cold front moves through, it's going to bring some drier air into the area for Friday and Saturday. Unfortunately, the hot temperatures will continue once the front moves through," Combs said.

Dew points will drop to a more comfortable level of the upper 50s and low 60s.

The City of Dover offers cooling centers at the following locations:

• McConnell Center Cafeteria at 61 Locust St., open Monday through Friday from 7am-9pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9am-4pm.
• Dover Public Library at 73 Locust St., open Monday through Thursday, from 9am-8:30pm, Friday from 9am-5pm., and Saturday from 9am-1pm. Closed Sundays during the summer.
• City Hall at 288 Central Ave., open Monday through Thursday from 8:30am to 5:30pm, and Friday from 8:30am-4pm.
• Dover Police Department lobby at 46 Chestnut St., open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Community Action Partnership of Strafford County's Day Center located at Bradley Commons, 577 Central Ave., open Monday through Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm.

The City of Dover operates two pools:

• Jenny Thompson Outdoor Pool, at 140 Portland Ave., is open daily with scheduled times for lap swims and recreational swims on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Dover Indoor Pool at 9 Henry Law Ave., is open Monday through Friday until 1pm. Recreational swims are not available during the summer; however, there are opportunities for lap swims, hydro fitness and therapy swims.

Drought relief?

Monday's rains and the heavy storms expected on Thursday will not do much to relieve the current drought situation. All of New Hampshire and southern Maine are considered to be in a moderate drought, while northeastern Massachusetts is in a severe drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

"Every little bit helps, but we're going to need something more substantial," Combs said, adding that the heaviest rain on Monday fell north of the Seacoast.

A heavy downpour won't be very helpful either, according to Combs, as they tend to be more localized. A widespread long duration soaking rain would be the best. Combs is not confident that will happen anytime soon.

"If you get three inches of rain in an hour that's when you start looking at flooding concerns because the ground can't absorb it that fast and it just runs off," Combs said.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH