It’s a scorcha
Dangerous heat, humidity bears down on region
Dangerous heat is back for the region as oppressive temperatures and humidity will peak today — with the “real feel” index expected to soar into the 100s.
The National Weather Service has issued an “Excessive Heat Watch” for the second heat wave within a 10-day stretch.
Today’s temperatures in the upper 90s will approach the Boston July 27 record of 98 degrees, set in 1882.
“With the high temperatures and high dewpoints, it will feel really uncomfortable out there,” said National Weather Service meteorologist William Leatham.
“The big thing we tell folks is just to try to avoid strenuous activities and have some way to hydrate,” he said. “Also, be close to a place to get into air conditioning and get cool somehow. That’s the big thing for the next couple of days into Tuesday.”
Mayor Martin Walsh declared a heat emergency in the city through Tuesday.
“The @CityOfBoston has cooling centers and recommendations to make sure all of our residents stay healthy & safe,” Walsh tweeted on Sunday.
As of 1 p.m. Sunday, 15 people had visited cooling centers in the city.
Also, Walsh last week opened up two public swimming pools amid the coronavirus pandemic — the Boston Centers for Youth & Families Clougherty Pool in Charlestown and the Mirabella Pool in the North End. The pools are at 40% capacity, and people have to sign up beforehand for a time slot.
On Sunday, all three sessions for each outdoor pool were booked. The spots on the website were filling up fast for today’s scorcher.
“With the heat emergency taking place from SundayTuesday, it is a perfect time for @CityOfBoston residents to head to the pools,”
Walsh tweeted.
The mayor and the Boston Public Health Commission reminded people to wear masks even in the heat.
“If you’re going to a beach, pool, park or lake to stay cool, wear your face covering,” the commission tweeted. “Yes, it will be hot. But you need to wear it unless you’re in the water. If you start to overheat or it becomes hard to breathe, find a shaded area away from others & take the face covering off.”
After another hot day in the 90s on Tuesday, the temperatures should drop slightly to the 80s on Wednesday.
“It’s still not going to feel comfortable out, but better in comparison than what we’re feeling now,” Leatham said. “The dewpoints will fall down, so it will be a bit more refreshing in comparison.”