Hottest Day of the Summer for Many on Wednesday, Storms Possible Thursday

Highs near 90 Wednesday, storms on the way Thursday

The first bout of heat and humidity in quite some time arrived in New England on Wednesday as high temperatures surged into the 90s for many.

At the same time, humidity ticked up with dew points in the 60s. Remember that the dew point measures the moisture in the air. Any reading above 60 feels sticky.

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With temperatures topping out in the 90s Wednesday, plenty of people headed to Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts, to spend the day and beat the heat.

Plenty of New Englanders headed to Nantasket Beach in Hull, Massachusetts, to spend the day and beat the heat.

The middle of the week typically is not the most popular time at the beach, but the warmer weather drew quite a crowd.

"It was 95 degrees on the way here," said Nikki Sullivan, who came in from Brockton with her family.

Thursday will be even more humid. In Southern New England highs will still pop into the upper 80s and low 90s, while cooler air flows into areas north and east of Boston. Expect highs in the 70s to near 80 in those spots.

In addition to the heat and humidity we’ll be tracking scattered storms during the day. This activity will be of the pop-up variety, meaning that not all areas will get hit with a downpour or storm, but where the storms do develop some may be strong to severe.

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The cooler air working in from the northeast will continue to divide New England on Friday with most of Eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine seeing highs in the 70s to low 80s. In Western New England highs will be in the 80s with more humidity. A few more scattered storms are possible, but again, much of the day in any one community will be dry.

The weekend won’t be nearly as nice or dependable as this past holiday weekend. A period of rain is likely on Saturday, with gradual improvement on Sunday. 

Here are some heat safety tips from the American Red Cross:

  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
  • Avoid extreme temperature changes.
  • Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
  • Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
  • Postpone outdoor games and activities.
  • Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat. Take frequent breaks if working outdoors.
  • Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
  • Check on animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat. Make sure they have plenty of cool water.
  • If someone doesn’t have air conditioning, they should choose places to go to for relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day.
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