After 2 successive days of temperatures in the 90s, Greater Springfield is, if the forecast holds, rushing headlong into its first heat wave of 2013.
SPRINGFIELD — Day one: check. Day two: check. Next up is day three.
After two successive days of temperatures in the 90s, Greater Springfield is, if the forecast holds, rushing headlong into its first heat wave of 2013.
Definitions for a heat wave vary around the world, but for the Northeast, it’s three or more successive days of temperatures of 90 degrees or higher.
Day three, barring a major asteroid strike or something, should arrive on Saturday. The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures should be around 92 on Saturday, which would be a shade lower than Friday when temperatures up the Connecticut River valley hit the mid-90s.
Barnes Municipal Airport in Westfield recorded a high of 96 degrees, Bradley International Airport tied a 1987 record for the date with a mark of 95 degrees, and Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee recorded 92 degrees. Orange Municipal Airport recorded a mark of 93 degrees.
The Republican weather station in downtown Springfield measured a high of 93 degrees, while the Springfield Department of Public Works on Tapley Street recorded a high of 95 degrees.
A degree here, a degree there; the bottom line is Friday was hot.
This came on the heels of Thursday, when temperatures reached or exceeded 90 degrees at Westover, Bradley and downtown Springfield.
In addition to the heat on Friday, the region had to contend with poor air quality. The National Weather Service issued an air quality alert for the region, warning of unhealthy amounts of ozone that could affect people with lung issues. The advisory was in effect until 11 p.m. Friday.
Nick Morganelli, meteorologist with CBS 3 Springfield, the media partner of The Republican and MassLive.com, said there is little relief in sight through the weekend, and people are best advised to do whatever they can to stay cool.
“Stay hydrated, limit outdoor activity during the midday heat, check on seniors and those with lung issues, and keep pets indoors,” he said.
“We're in the haze, heat, and humidity through Sunday,” he said.
In anticipation of Saturday’s forecast, the city of Springfield will open cooling centers at four library branches from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The branches are 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.
The state Department of Recreation will have a lifeguard on duty at the beach at Chicopee State Park in Chicopee.
There is also a chance for sudden thunderstorms later in the day on Saturday and Sunday, Morganelli said.
The forecast calls for the heat wave ending after Sunday, and rain is expected to move in on Monday and Tuesday, he said.
Meanwhile the National Weather Service investigated reports that a tornado touched down in Ashfield on Wednesday night, but could not confirm one actually did, an official said.
Joseph Dellicarpini of the National Weather Service station in Taunton said the reports of the tornado were based on several trees in Ashfield being knocked down.
An investigation of the scene showed the trees were all likely knocked down by a wind of 60 to 70 miles an hour and not a tornado, he said. Based on how the trees fell, he said, “We’re pretty confident it was a straight-line wind.”