Eastern Canada Can't Catch Break From Winter; Blowtorch Set To Hit Vermont, Northeast

Reference this photo to cool down during the expected
heat wave this weekend. Photo is of Corner Brook,
Newfoundland this morning. Yes, this morning. 

This cool morning will probably be the last of the bunch for awhile.

Northern New England, and especially eastern Canada, got another late season cold blast this morning.

It was one of a series that has swept through all spring and early summer. Here in New England and northern New York, the cool air has been mostly just refreshing all season, with little harm done, except in the cold hollows.

And overall temperatures for June are coming out just a bit cooler than average, nothing special.

Still, it was 31 degrees in Saranac Lake, New York this morning, the second time in four days they had a frost.

Things were even more "special" up in Canada. Newfoundland, not exact a tropical destination in the best of times, got yet another snowstorm. Yep. On June 26. That's totally off the charts, even for them.

This, after a huge snowstorm on May 24 and destructive June frosts further south in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick that ruined plenty of crops.

Summer will finally come to Newfoundland and surrounding areas this weekend. They'll be on the edge of a big, big heat wave that will affect the eastern United States within a few days. By Sunday, the snow zone in Newfoundland could see temperatures as warm as the upper 80s.

Back down here in Vermont, I hope you're enjoying this cool morning. It was in the 40s pretty much everywhere in the Green Mountain State this morning, with some 30s in the normally colder spots.

Another photo of Newfoundland this morning, again
to reference during the upcoming heat wave.

The blowtorch for this weekend is still on the way. The National Weather Service in South Burlington, Vermont is already calling the expected heat wave "dangerous" and I really must agree with them.

It's not just the hot temperatures. It's not just the humidity. The length of the heat wave matters a lot, too. The longer a heat wave grinds on, the greater the toll it takes on the human body. Especially human bodies that don't have access to air conditioning.

The temperature is expected to rise above 70 degrees and not fall below that level until Tuesday night at the very earliest. So nights will be stifling. Daytimes Saturday through at least Monday will be well into the 90s and the humidity will be quite high.

Sunday at this point looks like it might be the worst days. It's possible, though not likely, that Burlington, Vermont will have an actual temperature of 100 degrees for only the fifth time since records began in the 1880s.

Heat indexes - how the air feels - on Sunday will be in the 105 to possibly 110 degree range. This is not normal in Vermont, that's for sure. We're not used to it.

If you can, make plans now to take air conditioning breaks during the upcoming weekend. There's some great movies out there this time of year. Maybe take in a matinee at some chilly theater near you.

Watch the elderly and make sure they're cool. They can get ill or sick in the heat very quickly. I've already ordered my 89 year old mother into her basement this weekend. Yeah, it sounds mean, but she has no air conditioning, but her basement always stays cool.

My house also has no air conditioning. So I will be sleeping in the basement, too. We have dogs, which reminds me: Be VERY careful with your dogs during the heat wave. They can't stand the heat.

Keep them in cool places, and make sure they have LOTS of water to drink. Don't take them for walks on pavement or concrete. It'll burn their paws.

If you have heavy physical work to do outside during the heat wave, try to postpone it. Even if you're healthy, or think you are. You could easily get heat stroke.

And here's the most important tip: Put a sticky note on the dashboard of your car reminding you to check to make sure all the kids and the pets are out of the car when you leave it. It's surprisingly easy to forget and that has resulted in tragedies.

When you park the car, actually look in and under the back seat. Is everybody out? No living beings in there?

Less important but still good to consider: Remove electronic equipment, cell phones, pens, aerosol cans, sunscreen, soda, beer, wine and medications from your car during hot weather. All could be ruined by the heat.

Someday, it will cool off again, and life will go on as normal. In the meantime, enjoy the relatively cool air today, Wednesday and Thursday. You'll look back on these days with fondness by the time the weekend rolls around.