GREENFIELD — Hazy, hot and humid will be the mantra of Franklin County for the rest of the week and residents are urged to keep cool until the heat wave is over.
The area can expect temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s during the day through Friday, with the potential for it to feel even hotter as humidity grips the area. During the heat wave, residents are urged to stay cool and to watch their time outdoors.
Greenfield Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director Robert Strahan said exposure to excessive heat could lead to medical issues such as dehydration, especially in the elderly population. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke could also happen in this weather.
Symptoms to look out for include dizziness, nausea, headaches and lack of sweat.
To avoid issues, residents should limit their time in the sun this week and stay within air-conditioned buildings as often as they can, Strahan said, and be well-hydrated.
Other tips for staying cool include wearing loose-fitting and light-colored clothing. Children and animals shouldn’t be left unattended in vehicles, either, even if a window is open.
To beat the heat, residents can visit the city’s cooling areas at the library on Main Street and the John Zon Community Center on Pleasant Street during business hours, or the splash pad at Hillside Park at Grove and Conway streets.
The splash pad is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The community center is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The library is open Mondays through Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The continued hot weather is part of a larger heat wave that has hit the area since June 29, National Weather Service Meteorologist Kim Buttrick said.
The hottest day was Sunday, when temperatures got as high as 99 degrees in Leverett. Other cities and towns saw temperatures in that range, too, with Greenfield reaching 96 degrees and Amherst reaching 97.
But the weather felt even worse, Buttrick said, with the humidity and high dew point making it feel closer to 105 degrees.
High temperatures through Thursday will continue to be in the mid- to high-90s during daytime hours, and Friday predicted to be around 86 degrees. Humidity will be a factor during each of these days, though, once again making the days feel even hotter.
Buttrick said the evening won’t be much better, with “warm and muggy nights” expected through Thursday, as well, with low temperatures predicted around 70 degrees each night.
Buttrick said a slight risk for isolated thunderstorms exists through Thursday, too. Friday though, is very likely to see thunderstorms through the day, according to the National Weather Service.
A reprieve is expected by the weekend, when more seasonable weather conditions with lower humidity are expected, Buttrick said. The cooler weather could begin as early as Friday night, with overnight temperatures expected to drop to around 59 degrees.
Reach Dan Desrochers at:
ddesrochers@recorder.com
413-772-0261, ext. 257