Summers heating up locally and across the country
Even though it may not feel like it right now, Memorial Day signifies the unofficial start of summer. It's the end of May, and temperatures are running around ten to 20 degrees below normal. We're also not seeing much in the way of sunshine either.
Drought conditions improve in western Massachusetts due to recent rainfall
Even though it's cool now, temperatures will be warming up, especially as we head into June and it starts to feel more like summer. According to Climate Central, summers are getting warmer across the country.
'Since 1970, summer temperatures have risen 97% in over 240 U.S. cities by an average of 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit,' said Climate Central Meteorologist Shel Winkley.
From 1970 to 2024, summers warmed by two degrees in the Springfield area. We're also seeing an increase in the number of hot summer days. In Springfield, we are currently expecting 11 days with above normal temperatures during the summer. Hotter summers can lead to a number of health risks.
'And in this warming climate, the risk of heat-related illness, poor air quality, and deadly heat waves are growing,' Winkley said. 'Not only just for the U.S., but for billions across the globe.'
In the last nearly 55 years, the southern and western parts of the country have seen the highest increase in summer temperatures. June 1 is the meteorological start of summer, and the official start of summer is on Friday, June 20.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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