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If you think it has been unusually hot, you’re right.

Today’s high temperature of 96 marked the fifth day this month — and third in a row — that Richmond’s high reached 95 degrees or above. The average number of 95-plus days for June is 2.2.

“This is quite unusual,” National Weather Service meteorologist Lyle Alexander said of the June heat wave.

Today also marked the fifth day in a row that the temperature hit 90 or higher. Average high temperatures here for mid-June are in the mid-80s.

However, if you think this is the hottest June in a long time, you’re wrong. In 2008, the temperature topped 95 eight times, including three days of 100 degrees or hotter.

Richmond’s record for 95-plus days in June is 11, set in 1984.

Now, we get some short-lived relief, with expected highs in the upper 80s Tuesday and Wednesday.

After that, the weather service is calling for a high of about 90 on Thursday and in the low to mid-90s on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Several buildings in the Chesterfield County government complex lost power this morning because of an apparent transformer explosion, leaving many without air conditioning for several hours.

Most power was restored shortly after 1:30 p.m., said Don Kappel, Chesterfield’s director of public affairs.

Some employees were sent home, said Kappel, but all offices remained open, some with reduced staffing to provide basic services.

A fallen electrical line struck several county employees’ parked vehicles, causing some damage, he said.

“It was arcing and twisting around like a rattlesnake,” Kappel said.

Contact Rex Springston at (804) 649-6453 or
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Staff writer Wes Hester contributed to this report.