Lobster boats on the Piscataqua River in southeastern New Hampshire on Aug. 7, 2022. Photo by Todd B. Bates/NH EnviroGuy blogger

New England Heat Wave: Many Longtime Temperature Records Broken or Tied in August 2022

5 min readAug 10, 2022

This month’s long heat wave in New England led to lots of temperature records, both sweltering highs and warm lows.

Highs in Concord, New Hampshire, reached at least 90 degrees for eight days in a row on Aug. 9, the National Weather Service office that covers New Hampshire and western Maine tweeted. That tied the second longest streak since 1868.

The longest heat wave on record in Concord— nine days — lasted from Aug. 11 to 19, 2002.

Yesterday was also the 15th day in the city since July 19 when temperatures hit 90 or above.

Portland, Maine, has also endured extreme heat: its second hottest first week of August since 1944, the office tweeted.

Dangerous Heat: Record High and Low Temperatures Likely in the Northeast

Many locations also had record high minimum temperatures, often in the 70s, making it harder for people without air conditioning to cope with the heat.

But the heat and humidity have finally eased.

“For the first time in what feels like forever, we didn’t break any records yesterday! Cooler temperatures and drier air is here through the weekend with skies clearing up Friday as a cold front ushers in the dry air,” the local weather service tweeted this morning.

Drought in the Northeast Likely to Linger or Spread in August After a Dry, Warm July

Here are some of the many temperature records in New England so far this month, according to preliminary weather service data:

Concord, New Hampshire

Aug. 8 — Record high temperature (96 degrees Fahrenheit). Previous record (95) set in 1870.

Aug. 8 — High minimum temperature (69 degrees) tied record set in 2018.

Aug. 7— Record high minimum (72). Previous record (70) set in 1988.

Aug. 4 — Record high (98). Previous record (97) set in 1944.

“Searing Heat” in the Northeast: 102 Degrees in Newark, 100 in Boston, 98 in Providence

Portland, Maine

Aug. 8 — High (95) tied record set in 1949.

Aug. 7 — Record high (96). Previous record (93) set in 2001.

Aug. 7 — Record high minimum (74). Previous record (71) set in 2018.

Caribou, Maine

Aug. 7 — High (89) tied record set in 1947.

Bangor, Maine

Aug. 7 — Record high minimum (71). Previous record (70) set in 2001.

Augusta, Maine

Aug. 6— High minimum (72) tied record set in 1980.

Millinocket, Maine

Aug. 7 — High minimum (71) tied record set in 1988.

Montpelier, Vermont

Record highs on Aug. 6 (91), Aug. 7 (89) and Aug. 8 (92).

Boston, Massachusetts

Aug. 8 — Record high (98). Previous record (96) set in 1983.

Aug. 8 — Record high minimum (78). Previous record (75) set in 2000.

Aug. 7 — High (98) tied record set in 1924.

Aug. 7 — High minimum (77) tied record set in 2018.

Aug. 6 — High (97) tied record set in 1931.

Aug. 4 — Record high (98). Previous record (96) set in 1928.

Worcester, Massachusetts

Aug. 8 — High minimum (73) tied record set in 2001.

Aug. 7 — Record high minimum (79). Previous record (73) set in 1931.

Aug. 6 — High (93) tied record set in 1906.

Providence, Rhode Island

Aug. 8 — High (95) tied record set in 1909.

Aug. 8 — Record high minimum (78). Previous record (74) set in 1977 and tied twice.

Aug. 7 — High (95) tied record set in 1931.

Aug. 7 — Record high minimum (77). Previous record (75) set in 2001.

Hartford, Connecticut

Aug. 7 — Record high minimum (76). Previous record (73) set in 1929 and tied several times.

Aug. 6 — High (95) tied record set in 1918.

Aug. 4 — High (96) tied record set in 1928.

Bridgeport, Connecticut

Aug. 8 — Record high minimum (77). Previous record (76) set in 1977 and 2001.

Aug. 7 — Record high minimum (77). Previous record (76) set in 2001 and 2018.

Aug. 6 — High minimum (75) tied record set in 1976 and 1980.

Aug. 5 — High minimum (76) tied record set in 2002.

More images:

Source: National Weather Service Gray/Portland office

Portland had its second hottest first week of August on record (since 1944), with the temperature averaging 77.3 degrees from Aug. 1 to 7, 2022. Source: National Weather Service Gray/Portland ME office.

Source: National Weather Service Boston/Norton office

The average temperature in July 2022 was much above average in much of New England and record warmest in some areas. Source: National Centers for Environmental Information

Temperatures in much of New England were 3 degrees to 6 degrees above average in July 2022. Source: National Centers for Environmental Information

You can subscribe to my NH EnviroGuy blog via email: https://medium.com/subscribe/@tbbates16

Photos at Serene, Colorful Lees Pond in Moultonborough, New Hampshire

Cool Clouds, Sunset at Newfound Lake in New Hampshire After Storm

Hurricanes and Tropical Storms in New England, With the Chances of Them Coming Within 50 Miles

Nor’easter Winds Gust to 94 mph in Massachusetts, Higher than Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey

1821 Hurricane Slammed U.S. East Coast

New England Heat Wave: Many Longtime Temperature Records Broken or Tied in August 2022

Written by Todd B. Bates/NH EnviroGuy