AUGUSTA — The hot spell that’s settled over Maine seemed to peak on Thursday, when the temperature in Augusta hit a record-high 93 degrees.
In the capital city, that’s the highest temperature that’s been recorded on July 5 over the 70 years that the National Weather Service has been collecting data here, according to Derek Schroeter, a meteorologist in the agency’s Gray office.
The last record for this day in Augusta was set in 2010, when temperatures reached 91 degrees.
While it was hot all over Maine on Thursday, some spots sizzled more than others, according to National Weather Service. In Bangor, temperatures reached 93 degrees. In Waterville, they hit 92.
It was cooler on the coast, where Rockland saw the mercury climb to just 86 degrees and Portland saw it reach 89.
It’s not clear how many other towns saw record-breaking temperatures on Thursday, as there aren’t so many years of data for places like Waterville and Rockland.
But the weather was a little less remarkable in Portland, where the record high for this day was 94 degrees, set in 1999, according to Schroeter.
For those tired of the heat, this fever may be close to breaking.
The National Weather Service is forecasting cooler weather on Friday, with temperatures expected to reach the low 80s around Augusta, followed by a clear, mild weekend. A heavy rain is also expected to fall.
Charles Eichacker — 621-5642
Twitter: @ceichacker
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