Steamy temperatures climbing near record

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff, and Matt Collette, Globe Correspondent

The mercury hit 93 degrees at Logan International Airport at 1 p.m. and kept climbing as New England withered in a spring heat wave with near record-breaking temperatures and shirt-sticking humidity.

The unseasonable heat has sent people scurrying for air conditioning and ice cream knowing that they must endure at least one more day for relief. A cold front is not expected until Wednesday, when drier air will push the temperatures into the mid-80s. For now, weather forecasters can only offer this comfort: It was supposed to be worse. A sultry northwest breeze has helped to slightly temper the humidity and may preserve the 96-degree record for June 9, which was set in 1984.

"It's still hot, but it is not as oppressive as it was this morning," said Joe Dellicarpini, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Taunton.

A record was tied at 1 p.m. in Rhode Island, where the temperature hit 95 degrees at TF Green International Airport. In Massachusetts it also reached 95 degrees in Taunton. It was slightly cooler on the Cape and Islands, with highs hovering in the upper 80s.

On Tuesday the temperature is expected to top out again near 95 degrees and stay steamy until the cold front rumbles in late that night.

That is good news for the JP Licks ice cream chain. "On Saturday and Sunday, our business just quadrupled," said Kim Sawchuk, director of operations.

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