June’s Second Seacoast Heat Wave Starts Sunday

The Seacoast's second heat wave this month is good news for vacationers but doesn't bode well for the near drought situation as Stafford County is now under a "moderate drought."

Temperatures will be in the 80s on Saturday with low humidity under partly sunny skies. The real heat comes in Sunday when they soar into the low 90s which combined with dew points in the mid to upper 60s which will make it feel like the mid 90s in some inland areas, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Hunter Tubbs.

"Right along the coast it might be in the upper 80s," Tubbs said.

Monday will be the worst of the heat with inland temperatures in the mid 90s but high dew points around 70 which Tubbs said will push the heat index in the upper 90s. It will be slightly cooler at the beaches.

The heat index will drop back into the 60s but the heat index will be in the low 90s on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Tubbs.

Looking at the Fourth of July weekend highs will be in the low to mid 80s and a few with partly cloudy skies, according to Tubbs, although the forecast is subject to change, according to Tubbs.

Missing from the forecast: any much needed rain although there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms during the Independence Day holiday period.

Much of the Seacoast and southern New Hampshire are "abnormally dry" with Strafford County and southern Maine considered to be in a "moderate drought," according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

"This forecast is not going to help our drought situation at all. If anything it may even make it worse because it's going to be so hot so things are going to continue to dry out. We really just need a widespread soaking rain to help us out and we're not really looking at that anytime soon unfortunately," Tubbs said.

Mandatory outside water use restrictions were put into place by Aquarion for North Hampton and Rye.

The city of Dover is urging voluntary water restrictions "to ensure an adequate and sustainable supply of drinking water throughout the summer."

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