Pre-summer scorcher
Temperatures force early dismissal at some schools
Summer does not officially begin until 6:07 a.m. Thursday, but the season arrived early Monday with hot, humid and hazy conditions.
The hottest temperatures measured in Bridgeport was 87 degrees, 85 in Oxford and 86 in Danbury, made more uncomfortable because of humidity. The normal high for June 18 is 78 degrees. Expected high levels of ozone prompted the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the National Weather Service to issue an air quality alert until 10 p.m. Monday.
By Monday afternoon, Bridgeport Hospital had seen an influx of people with respiratory problems, including flare-ups in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, more commonly known as COPD.
“I know it’s a poor air quality day,” said Dr. Michael Werdmann, an emergency physician at the hospital. “When it gets hot like this, we do see more respiratory issues.”
The warm temperatures caused local school districts to have early dismissals in Trumbull, Danbury, Newtown, Litchfield and Regional School Districts 1, 6 and 14.
Last year, the only heat wave of the summer was July 18-21. A heat wave is called when there are three or more days of 90degree temperatures.
There were no 90-degree days in August last summer.
The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting temperatures for this summer will be above average.
The forecast for Tuesday includes a 20 percent chance of showers before 9 a.m. and cloudy through mid-morning, then gradual clearing with a high near 83 and a north wind from 7 to 14 mph. Lows Tuesday night are expected to be around 56 with clear skies.
Temperatures are expected to moderate Wednesday, with a high near 81 and mostly sunny weather with little wind. There is a 30 percent chance of showers Wednesday night with a low around 59.
Daytime temperatures will continue to drop, with a high near 82 Thursday and a low of 55, and a high near 78 Friday.