90°+ heat is heading for part of Southern New England in the middle of this week. While it’s unusual to have highs in the 90s in mid-September, it certainly is not unprecedented. Thirty years ago, in 1983, the temperature soared into the 90s nine times in the month of September! September 1983 got off to a scorching start, with highs at least in the 90s on seven of the first 11 days of the month, including a five-day heat wave from September 3-7. It is still the warmest September on record in the Providence area, with an average temperature of 69.6° at TF Green Airport.
The all-time September high temperature record in Providence was set on September 11, 1983 when it hit 100°. It was 99° in Boston and Hartford on the same day. It hit 91° on that day in Worcester, MA. Of course, Wednesday is September 11, and it is unlikely that those extreme record high temperatures will be reached. The last time it hit 90° after September 10 in the Providence area was on September 12, 2005 when it was 91° on September 12.