News

Sun-sational weekend may end soggy stretch of weather

By Katie Curley
Staff writer
Published: June 25, 2009

NEWBURYPORT — Just when you started mistaking Newburyport for Seattle, the sun is scheduled to make a rare appearance today. It might even stick around for a while.

After a June filled with damp, cool, overcast days, local vendors and residents alike are desperate for summer weather and sales.

Paul Aziz of Newburyport Harbor Tours said yesterday he hopes as soon as the sun comes out, the people do, too.

"It's been pretty slow. If it weren't for the educational trips we do with kids in the spring, I'd have nothing," Aziz said. "There have been some bright spots but very few."

Strange and extreme weather is nothing new for Boston area residents: Each year, New Englanders see heaps of snow, dreary springs and heat wave conditions in the summer. But this year, the first day of summer, last Sunday, came and went a lot like the rest of the spring did, with rained-out baseball games and puddles.

"This June has been a record breaker," Aziz said. "No one is going out. No one is around."

According to local weather watcher Ray Whitley, June has been the third coolest since 1956, with temperatures as low as 44 degrees. Precipitation was measured at 3.44 inches so far this month, and 14 days have been below the average June temperature of 60 degrees.

On Salisbury Beach yesterday, a few people braved the drizzle, but beach pizza employees hoped this weekend's Sand and Sea Festival would bring crowds. At Joe's Playland, employees stood around staring at the cold mist rather than cashing in tickets from winning children.

"It's been off," said David Sheafer, owner of Salisbury Discount. "People are discouraged, especially those who have been on vacation the last two weeks and are now going home."

Outside, the stage and rides were set up for this weekend's festivities, though the only people around were those decked out in hooded sweatshirts running to their cars.

"It's been raining a lot and slow because of the rain," Fernando Lazaro of Cristy's Pizza said. "This weekend, there will be more people because of the (Sand and Sea) festival."

Laurindo Pimtrizo of Tripoli Pizza said he's not quick to believe weather forecasts that the worst is behind us.

"I'll believe it when I see it," he said. "It's been very, very slow and too quiet."

But in a sign of things to come — hopefully — Dean Bell, co-owner of Dairy Queen on Route 110 along with his mother, Pauline, said people are still eating ice cream.

"It could be better, but it could be a lot worse," Dean Bell said.

Yesterday a dozen small children congregated outside his ice cream stand, wearing party hats and celebrating a birthday.

"My season starts in March and April, so this time is actually the middle to end of my season," Bell said. "Places like Canobie Lake and Six Flags are probably dead. The only places that have been jammed are the cinemas."

Bell said with a sunny and warm forecast on tap for the weekend, things can only get better. According to the National Weather Service, the next week looks sunny with highs in the 80s, meaning summer could finally be here to stay.

"We have our fingers crossed," Aziz said, noting it could be a matter of weeks before everyone is complaining about the heat. "June is always like this; when it rains everyone is gone."