RI Looking Hot, Dry In September As School Starts: Long Range Forecast

RHODE ISLAND — Even though it's still August, we've caught a few glimpses of cool, wet autumn weather in recent weeks. Still, don't unpack your sweaters just yet.

Long-range forecasts for September show the potential for very hot and dry weather — just as students are returning to school buildings across the state that mostly lack air conditioning.

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center's 8 to 14-day forecast released Sunday shows a 60 percent chance of higher-than-usual temperatures. On the precipitation side, there's up to a 40 percent chance of lower-than-usual rainfall.

Many students are heading back to school this week — including in Providence on Monday and Portsmouth on Tuesday and Wednesday — with temperatures expected to be in the high 80s.

"Dry weather with increasing humidity today into Tuesday, with highs near 90. A few showers/t-storms possible Tue night-Wed, but not a washout, with much of this time featuring dry weather. An extended period of mainly dry weather follows Thursday into the holiday weekend," the weather service said in a tweet Monday.

Even with a heavy dose of rainstorms last week, all of mainland Rhode Island is still in a critical drought after spring and summer seasons mostly free of rainfall.