PORTLAND, Maine — We didn't have much of a summer last year in Maine, but we will make up for it in a big way this time around.
A classic heat wave setup will happen by the middle of the week as a big ridge of high pressure becomes stationed over New England. Hot and humid air underneath the “heat dome” surged into Maine starting Tuesday.
Something to consider in addition to the heat is how the humidity will affect us. This is called the heat index, sometimes referred to as the "feels like" temperature.
Dry air allows sweat to evaporate as our bodies are able to naturally cool off when they become warm. In this case, the air temperature and heat index remain the same. But when the dew point is high and air is moist, sweat evaporation becomes limited, and it makes us feel uncomfortable because we can't cool ourselves off as efficiently.
Air temps in the mid-90s alone would be enough to make most of us feel very uncomfortable. Add the humidity, and it will be extremely uncomfortable.
"Feels like" temperatures Wednesday afternoon:
"Feels like" temperatures Thursday at 1 p.m. where northern-area temperatures will remain lower as a cold front approaches from Canada:
But it won't just feel unpleasant, it can be dangerous as heat indexes reach the 100s. Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in more than 1,000 deaths each year, according to the CDC.
Click on this link for more information on heat-related illnesses.
Everyone is vulnerable to heat, but certain groups have a much more difficult time. Check on young children and infants, older adults, people with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women. Don't forget to check on your pets, too.
You may want to head to the beach or lake to cool off, but it is important to remember that even though the air is hot, the water is not. Water temperatures below 70 degrees are considered hazardous to your health, so be sure to take the proper precautions this week.
Stay safe and cool this week,
Dana and Jason