Heat — Caroline, Maryland

2012-07-04 to 2012-07-08 · Caroline, Maryland

Wider weather episode

The combination of continued heat and more humidity returned to the Eastern Shore starting on Independence Day and lasted until the 7th in the northern half of the Eastern Shore and the 8th in the southern half of the Eastern Shore. High temperatures on the 3rd and 4th were mainly in the mid 90s, but the air mass was still relatively dry on the 3rd. It became more humid on the 4th (afternoon heat indices around 100F) and the 5th (afternoon heat indices between 100F and 105F). The 6th offer a reprieve from the humidity, but most high temperatures were in the upper 90s. The hot spell peaked on the 7th with many high temperatures in the 100s and afternoon heat indices of around 105F. A cold front slipped slowly south through the Eastern Shore during the first half of the day on the 8th. Coupled with more cloudiness, high temperatures were in the lower 90s in Cecil and Kent Counties, but still reached 95F to 100F across the rest of the Eastern Shore along with afternoon heat indices between 100F and 105F. The excessive heat and heat ended on the 9th as the cold front sagged farther to the south.

A 12-year-old boy and a 8-year-old boy drowned on the 7th after seeking some relief from the heat in the Marshyhope Creek in Federalsburg (Caroline County). Their bodies were found on the 8th. About 60 cooling centers were opened throughout the state of Maryland to help people get a reprieve from the heat. Talbot County asked residents to postpone burning during the heat wave as some small wildfires were occurring around Tunis Mills. A race scheduled in Charlestown (Cecil County) was cancelled on the 8th.

Highest temperatures all occurred on the 7th and included 104 degrees at the Baltimore-Washington Marshall International Airport, 103F in Annapolis (Anne Arundel County), 102 degrees in Easton (Talbot County) and Salisbury (Wicomico County) and 95 degrees in Fair Hill (Cecil County).

Heat Index near 100 on 7/4, 100-105 on 7/5, at or below air temp on 7/6, hottest on the 7th, heat index 100-105 on the 8th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 403655. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.