Community Corner

First Official Days Of Summer Could Be Scorchers

If the forecast holds, we could get some steamy hot weather just in time for the first official day of summer Wednesday. State officials say be careful about the extreme heat. Read our story for some tips on how to do that.

 

A warm front extending from Lake Erie to Virginia is approaching the region and, combined with a large high pressure system, will bring very hot and increasingly humid weather Wednesday through Thursday, the National Weather Service (NWS) says.

The state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) says Connecticut residents should be very cautious during this period of hot and humid weather.

Find out what's happening in Madisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“A few simple steps can greatly reduce heat related issues, especially for the elderly, the very young and people with respiratory ailments, who are more susceptible to the effects of high temperature,” said DESPP Deputy Commissioner William P. Shea, in a prepared release.

Shea said temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday are expected to range from 95 to 100 degrees across most of interior Connecticut with Heat Index Temperatures between 100 and 105 degrees. Residents along the Connecticut and Rhode Island shoreline will experience somewhat lower temperatures, in the low 90's and high 80's, the NWS says.

Find out what's happening in Madisonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The hot weather is coming just in time for the official start of summer. Summer starts the Northern Hemisphere Wednesday at 7:09 P.M. (EDT). For more about that, you can read this information on the Old Farmer's Almanac.

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection offer the following tips during extreme high temperatures:

  • Slow down, and avoid strenuous activity.
  • Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect heat and sunlight and help maintain normal body temperature. Protect your face with a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
  • Limit intake of alcoholic beverages. They can actually dehydrate your body.
  • Eat well-balanced, light, regular meals.
  • Stay indoors as much as possible.
  • If you do not have air conditioning, stay on your lowest floor, out of the sun. Electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help evaporate sweat, which cools your body.
  • Go to a place where you can get relief from the heat, such as air conditioned schools, libraries, theaters, shopping malls, and other community facilities that may offer refuge during the warmest times of the day.
  • Cover windows that get morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades, awnings or louvers. Outdoor awnings or louvers can reduce the heat that enters a home by up to 80 percent
  • Avoid too much sunshine. Sunburn slows the skin’s ability to cool itself. If you are outside, use sunscreen with a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) rating.
  • Never leave children or pets alone in a closed vehicle.
  • Do not leave pets outside for extended periods. Make sure pets have plenty of drinking water.
  • Check on family, friends, and neighbors regularly.

Here is the forecast for the Connecticut shoreline from East Haven to Clinton, including Madison:

This Afternoon: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. South wind around 9 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Light south wind.

Wednesday: Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 92. Southwest wind between 3 and 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 69. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 87. West wind between 5 and 9 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

Here is the forecast for North Madison, Killingworth, Durham, and other areas further north:

This Afternoon: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. South wind around 9 mph.

Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 63. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 100. Light wind becoming west between 10 and 13 mph.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 83.

The NWS says that, for northern and interior portions of the state, "a blast of high heat and humidity is expected on Wednesday and Thursday. Widespread high temperatures in the mid- and upper-90s, combined with dewpoints in the upper 60's will result in heat indices in the 100 to 1004 degree range during the afternoon and early evening both days. A heat advisory will likely be needed."

Sounds like it might be a great day to go to the beach.You can check out Hammonasset Beach State Park's Twitter feed to find out if the parking lot is filling up. For information about Hammonasset, Connecticut's largest shoreline park, see the park's webpage.

Other state parks with swimming include:

Chatfield Hollow State Park, Killingworth
Location: 1.5 miles west of Killingworth Center on Route 80
Activities: Picnicking, Hiking, Ice Skating, Pond and Stream Fishing, Swimming
Charge: Daily, in season

Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme
Location: 3 miles west of Niantic (Exit 72 from I- 95)
Activities: Picnicking, Saltwater Fishing, Hiking, Scuba Diving, Camping, Interpretive Program, Field Sports, Cross Country Skiing, Saltwater Swimming
Charge: Daily, in season.  Camping fee

Sherwood Island State Park, Westport
Location: 1/4 mile south of Exit 18 from I-95
Activities:  Picnicking, Salt Water Swimming and Fishing, Field Sports, and Nature Programs
Charge:


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