State could see record highs this weekend

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for nearly all of Connecticut for Saturday when temperatures are expected to rise into the 90s and could set record highs in parts of the state.

The advisory applies to all of Connecticut’s eight counties, with the exception of a narrow strip along the coast where temperatures are expected to be slightly cooler.

Temperatures on Saturday are expected to reach the upper 90s in the greater Hartford area, but the combination of heat and humidity will make the temperature feel closer to 100 degrees, the National Weather Service said.

A record high could be set in Hartford, where the last time it was this hot on May 21 was 2013 when it reached 91 degrees, according to the weather service. In Bridgeport, temperatures reached 81 degrees on May 21 in 2018 and 2019, the weather service said.

“Seniors and those with chronic health problems or mental health conditions are at an increased risk,” the agency’s New York office said in a bulletin early Friday. “Homes without air conditioning can be much hotter than outdoor temperatures. Use air conditioning to stay cool at home or go to a place that has air conditioning. Check on vulnerable friends, family members and neighbors.”

The heat advisory does not extend to communities on or near the shoreline where temperatures are expected to reach the upper 80s to low 90s, according to the weather service. But the heat could cause people to flock to beaches to cool off — despite water temperatures still remaining cold.

“With the heat expected this weekend, it`s important to keep in mind that ocean, nearshore and inland water temperatures remain cold, in the 50s to around 60 degrees,” the agency advised. “Physical incapacitation and hypothermia are likely in as little as 10 minutes if you fall in the water, greatly increasing the risk of drowning.”

More record-high temperatures could be set Sunday when it will soar into the midto upper-90s inland and in the 80s along the coast. Last year on May 22, temperatures reached 88 degrees in Bridgeport and 90 in Hartford, the weather service said.

Temperatures will cool off Sunday night when there’s a chance of showers and thunderstorms.