Sunrise report: Forecast, poll and more for Tuesday July 5

Today's poll: How did you celebrate Independence Day?

The Republican | Greg Saulmon07.04.2011 | CHESTERFIELD - Town firefighters participate in the annual firefighters' muster following the Independence Day Parade. See Don Treeger's gallery from the parade here. And, find all of our Independence Day photo galleries here.

The Forecast

Monday's textbook Independence Day weather continues.

It's 70 and sunny this morning, with a predicted high of 89 today. This is the summer sweet spot: heat that melts away when you step into the shade, warm enough for the beach but not so warm that the guy in front of you in line at the bank can justifiably ask, "Hot enough for you?"

No, it's just right.

ABC 40 / FOX 6 meteorologist Dan Brown writes:

[Tuesday] and Wednesday are looking very warm but fairly dry. There will be lots of sunshine around both days with highs close to 90. The next chance of rain will arrive Thursday afternoon in the form of some showers and thunderstorms as a cold front makes its way into western Mass.

That cold front won't be all that cold, though: the National Weather Service predicts highs above 80 through the weekend.

Find the full forecast here.

Today's Poll

With parades in Chesterfield, East Longmeadow, Westfield and Amherst and fireworks in Amherst and Springfield, Pioneer Valley residents had plenty of Fourth of July festivities to fill a day off from work.

How did you celebrate Independence Day? Vote in our poll (you can select more than one answer), and check back tomorrow for the results.

Friday's results: On Friday, we asked "Should Springfield Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell meet with the parishioners of Mater Dolorosa before issuing a trespass order against them?"

27 people voted. 77.78% said "yes" and 22.22% said "no."

Monday's Top 5:

The top 5 headlines on MassLive.com on July 4 were:

1) Springfield priest found dead in rectory at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish

2) Rev. Paul Archambault's death at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Rectory in Springfield was suicide, police say

3) AMonaco Royal Wedding: Prince Albert II weds Charlene Wittstock [photo gallery]

4) Springfield police continue to probe death of the Rev. Paul Archambault whose body was found in closet of rectory

5) East Longmeadow Fourth of July

Quote of the Day

"I’ve never seen anything like this. This is the most amazing country ever."

~Iraqi exchange student Solin Ahmad, on Chesterfield's Independence Day Parade. Read Fred Contrada's story here.