Summer officially begins Thursday, and is there a more fitting way to greet the sunny season than with a heat wave?
Starting Tuesday and continuing through Friday evening, nearly all of the region will face an official heat wave, with temperatures over at least three consecutive days exceeding 90 degrees. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for most of Massachusetts.
The oppressive heat is part of a larger wave hitting huge swaths of the country, from Iowa all the way up to Maine. Combined with humidity, Massachusetts residents could see heat index values reach 105 degrees.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declared a heat emergency Monday that runs from Tuesday until Thursday. Here’s what you should know to stay safe and cool through the worst of the wave.
Tips for Bostonians to beat the heat
What you can do to keep yourself cool
Gov. Maura Healey also advised residents to take precautions during the heatwave.
“With several straight days of hot and humid weather expected this week, it’s essential that Massachusetts residents make a plan to stay safe — including keeping hydrated, limiting strenuous activity and checking in one another,” she said in a statement.
Her office recommended the following checklist:
- Minimize time spent outdoors
- Stay hydrated
- Dressing appropriately for the heat, including wearing a hat outside, as well as light-colored, loose-fitting and breathable clothing.
- Seek out air-conditioned buildings
- Check on neighbors who may need assistance
Cooling centers, misting towers, beach options
Boston residents who need help staying cool can head to cooling centers at 14 Boston Centers for Youth & Families, which will be open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be programming for children under 5 at the centers, Wu said in a statement. Keep in mind that the centers, Boston Public Schools and the Boston Public Library will be closed on Wednesday for Juneteenth.
This year, the city is launching other new cooling initiatives, including setting up outdoor misting towers at fire stations and parks during heat emergencies, as well as the city’s Open Streets events.
The Office of Emergency Management will also distribute pop-up cooling kits with misting tents during heat emergencies and at outdoor events hosted by the city and community organizations, Wu said.
Pools and splash pads throughout the city will be open for residents to use. However, some of the pools are undergoing maintenance or repairs and are not open, so be sure to check before you go.
Mass. residents also can take full advantage of Department of Conservation and recreation’s 81 waterfronts and spray parks across the state, as well as saltwater ocean beaches and freshwater inland beaches.
What to know about Boston schools
In her statement, Wu said that the 10 Boston schools without air conditioning will have a surplus of fans available, and bottled water available on site.
She asked parents to dress their children appropriately and said school leaders have been instructed to move outdoor activities indoors.
Pet safety tips
The Animal Rescue League of Boston also reminds pet owners to keep their furry friends safe during extreme heat. High humidity can also cause respiratory issues for animals, particularly short-snouted animals like pugs.
The group recommends the following:
- Limit outdoor exercise to mornings or evenings when temperatures drop to their coolest points.
- At home, keep your pets inside a cool, low-humidity and, if possible, temperature-regulated room.
- If you must be outside, make sure your pet can find plenty of shady spots.
- Keep your pet hydrated.
- Never leave your pet alone in a parked car, even with air conditioning or windows cracked.
It’s illegal in Massachusetts to keep an animal confined in a vehicle during extreme hot or cold conditions and whenever a weather advisory is in place, the group stressed. It’s also illegal to keep dogs tethered for longer than five hours within a 24-hour period.
How to get additional help
Bostonians in need of support during the heat wave can call the city’s helpline at 3-1-1 or find resources at boston.gov/heat.
Residents across the state can call 2-1-1 to find nearby cooling locations or shelters, Healey’s office said.
With additional reporting from WBUR’s Zeninjor Enwemeka
