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"This is the first day of summer," somebody told me in the Roanoke Times office a little while ago. With a high of 91 ... only the fifth day at or above 90 this entire year to date ... and a dew point in the 60s (some 70s dew points in the New River Valley), it did indeed feel like a real July day.

Don't get used to it. A new cold front moving through will cut the legs out from under July heat once again, with temperatures likely at least 5 degrees cooler on Friday. Saturday will be about as pleasant as you can expect for the historical peak of summer heat, with highs in the mid 70s to low 80s and lows in the mid 50s to low 60s. Every day for about the next week (at least) is likely to be below normal for afternoon highs (normal this time of year is 88 at Roanoke, 83 at Blacksburg).

Even with today's heat, July is averaging only 73.3 degrees in Roanoke through the first 16 days. If the month ended today, it would be tied for sixth coolest (with 2000) among all Julys dating back to 1912. The record coolest July averaged 71.7 degrees in 1947. The expected upcoming weather pattern, featuring a deeply dipping jet stream over the East, and a few rainy days along the way holding highs in the lower half of the 70s could put that record in play.