Friday, July 17: Bright sunny and muggy day. Temperatures reach 84 degrees, marking the first time the Island has broken 80 this summer. Sunny. Vineyard beaches fill with Island visitors. Joseph Sylvia State Beach is dotted with colorful beach umbrellas. Dozens of swimmers line up to jump from the Big Bridge into the channel.

Saturday, July 18: Heavy early morning showers after thunderstorms in the night. More than an inch of rain falls on the Island at 3 a.m. More rain at 6 a.m. Clouds lighten and the wind picks up just in time for the early morning Round the Island Race start off Chappaquiddick. Skies begin to brighten midmorning. Sunshine. Visitors gather at the overlook at the Gay Head Cliffs. Light southwest breeze. Visibility improves every minute and skies change from hazy to clear. Clear afternoon.

Sunday, July 19: Bright and sunny day. Clear skies in the morning. Breezy with low humidity. Temperature climbs to 80 degrees. A large fleet of competing sailboats fill the outer Vineyard Haven waters.

Monday, July 20: Partly sunny and warm. Trucks, cars, motorcycles fill Main street in Edgartown in the morning. Hay is ready for cutting. Rose bushes are covered in huge red and white blooms in Vineyard Haven. A Sunfish speeds across Lagoon Pond.

Tuesday, July 21: Rain and foggy. Mostly overcast skies. Brief periods of sunshine in the early afternoon. Rain arrives again late.

Wednesday, July 22: Fog and hazy skies clear by midmorning. Temperature rises to near 80 degrees. Parasailer speeds off Oak Bluffs beach. Cloudless sky. Two young swimmers take a dip in Edgartown Great Pond in the afternoon. Kayakers and a lone sailboat drift across the pristine blue pond.

Thursday, July 23: Ferry horns sound in early morning in Vineyard Haven harbor. Thick fog covers the harbor. Fog abates. Brief period of sunshine. Overcast and dark. Overcast and foggy in Edgartown late morning. Weekend forecast is for clearing skies.

M.A.L.