A heat wave is 3 successive days or more of 90-plus degrees.
SPRINGFIELD — Coming up next up: a heat wave.
A week of weather extremes that has included non-stop rain, high humidity and ferocious lightning storms will now be segueing in to what could be the area’s first heat wave of the season.
A heat wave, you’re recall from last summer when it was so hot you could scream, is three successive days or more of 90-plus degrees.
If the weekend forecasts are correct, the Pioneer Valley should officially achieve heat wave status sometime Saturday.
Temperatures reached 90 degrees in parts of the area Thursday, and the forecast predicts the next three days will match and even exceed that.
The state Department of Conservation and Recreation announced Thursday that in anticipation of the oppressive conditions it will be staffing several state-operated swimming areas with lifeguards.
Locally, Chicopee State Park in Chicopee will be open for swimming beginning Friday through Sunday. It will be staffed each weekend through June 22, when it will be open daily until the end of summer.
Also, Springfield will open several cooling centers at library branches throughout the city on Saturday to give residents a chance to escape oppressive weather conditions during the day.
According to a release issued by the office of Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, centers will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Forest Park branch, 380 Belmont Ave., Indian Orchard Branch, 44 Oak St., Liberty Street branch, 773 Liberty St., and the Sixteen Acres branch at 1187 Parker St.
Temperatures on Thursday reached 90 degrees at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, and 91 at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks.
The Republican weather station in downtown Springfield recorded a high of 91.
The forecast calls for temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s through Sunday. There is also a chance for sudden thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
Friday may well be the hottest of the three days, with temperatures expected to reach 95.
As an added bonus, the National Weather Service has issued an air quality alert through 11 p.m. Friday due to ground-level ozone that is expected to reach or even exceed levels considered unhealthy.
“We expect Friday to be another unhealthy air quality day in many parts of southern and coastal New England,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of the EPA’s New England office. “On these days, EPA and the medical community suggest that people limit their strenuous outdoor activity.”
Meteorologist Nick Morganelli of CBS 3 Springfield, the media partner of The Republican and MassLive.com, said that in addition to the heat, there will also be hazy skies and high humidity through Sunday.
“Dew point temperatures will stay in the 60s through the weekend, making it feel uncomfortable. If you don't have the AC in the window, you might want to,” he said.