Rain And More Rain Due In The Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The region was abnormally dry through the first half of June, but the second half will make up for it.

The folks at Hudson Valley Weather said current projections show the region could receive 2-4 inches of rain between June 19-29.

It's going to hit here Thursday, according to the National Weather Service forecast:

• Tuesday - Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Tonight - Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Wednesday - Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Wednesday Night - Partly cloudy in the evening, then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.
• Thursday - Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.
• Thursday Night - Showers likely. Lows around 60. Chance of rain 60 percent.
• Friday - Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
• Friday Night - Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 50 percent.
• Saturday - Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers in the morning, then showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 80s. Chance of rain 60 percent.
• Saturday Night - Mostly cloudy. Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then a chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Until then, we'll enjoy the cool, as a weather pattern AccuWeather meteorologists characterized as both "topsy-turvy" and "stagnant" is causing temps 10, 15 even 20 degrees Fahrenheit higher than usual in Maine while 5–15 degrees lower than usual in the Hudson Valley.

"On Monday, temperatures along the south shore of Hudson Bay, Canada, were much warmer than Atlanta, which is 1,500 miles to the south," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Tom Kines said.

The heat will provide more fuel for Canadian wildfires.

Which brings us to Lightning Safety Awareness Week, which is June 18-24. Did you know lightning can strike as far as 25 miles away from its parent thunderstorm — much farther out from the area of rainfall within the storm, according to the National Weather Service.

The connection between climate change and lightning-caused wildfires is clear, scientists say. The number of lightning strikes are increasing, and the dry warmer and dry conditions mean lightning strikes are more likely to ignite fires, the BBC said in an analysis of the 2023 Canadian wildfire season so far.

In Canada, "The area of land burned by wildfires in the past seven weeks has already reached the ten-year average for the whole season (spanning from April to October)," reported The Conversation, an independent news organization dedicated to the free flow of information from experts to the public.

The smoke from the continuing wildfires continues to create hazy conditions throughout North and Central America and beyond.

The smoke is higher in the atmosphere than two weeks ago, though it slightly affects air quality from western and central New York down into New Jersey.

"As smoke moves across Western and Central New York today, I encourage New Yorkers to remain vigilant," Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday. "If you are in a vulnerable group, please monitor the latest information and if an Air Quality Advisory is issued this summer, take steps to protect yourself."