Abnormally dry and moderate drought conditions have returned to southern Maine after July was the 2nd-driest on record in the state, following an early-summer drought recovery.

AccuWeather meteorologist Joe Lundberg says there’ll be some drought relief moving ahead.

“The pattern going forward may bring us more opportunities for some showers and thunderstorms, you know, as we go through the month of August,” said Lundberg. “In fact, we’re predicting August to be a wetter than normal month across the area, which should help things out.”

Temperatures, especially along coastal Maine, have been relatively cool after a brief heat spell in early July.

Lundberg says especially hot days, for Maine standards, will come this week.

“I think we can get one or two days where parts of the area are going to hit 90, and that’s that could be as early as Friday,” Lundberg said. “And I think this weekend, it’s going to be pretty uncomfortable across the area, and that may last into Monday before that next front comes through.”