If You Think It’s Hot, Dry,

You’re Right, Mattice Says

If you think Otsego County’s weather has been unusually hot and dry, particularly in the past few days, you’re right, and it’s going to continue.

“It’s definitely the longest warm spell of the summer,” said National Weather Service observer David Mattice of Oneonta.

Otsego County temperatures have hit 81 degrees or higher for eight straight days. 84 degrees was the high the past three days, Mattice reports.

Today, tomorrow and Wednesday should be the warmest, with highs approaching 90 degrees in some places, he said.

 SEE MATTICE’S EYE ON THE WEATHER IN THIS WEEK’S NEWSPAPERS

No records broken, but Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s record highs are 91 and 90, both set in 1945. Normal max temps for this period are 74-77.  Average night time lows should be near 50, we’ve been hovering around 60.

The dryness is a huge concern, Mattice continued. There has been no measurable rainfall in the last 13 days.  Only three days since Aug. 15 have seen precipitation, and it totals only 1.13 inches, and only 2.66 for the entire month of August.

“Don’t burn outside; it won’t take much for a fire to take off,” he said. “We really need a good two or three day soaking rain.”

Relief may arrive Thursday, when a cold front moves in with showers and thunderstorms, with temperatures returning to normal after that, Mattice said.