At least four state parks with swimming areas were closed after reaching capacity Thursday.
The July 4 holiday kicked off an expected four-day heat wave that comes with oppressive humidity.
The heat combined with the fact most people had the day off from work forced at least four state parks with swimming areas to take the unusual step and close to visitors after they reached maximum capacity Thursday.
Hampton Ponds State Park in Westfield, Chicopee Memorial State Park, C.M. Gardner State Park in Huntington and the D.A.R. State Forest in Goshen all closed.
“We hit capacity at about 11 a.m. and we are full and we will be closed for the rest of the day,” said Andrew Gloss, supervisor for Hampton Ponds State Park.
At Chicopee State Park a police cruiser was parked at the entrance stopping people from entering.
C.M. Gardner State Park in Huntington was packed with picnickers even though the parking areas had filled. The park, located alongside the east branch of the Westfield River, opened at 7 a.m. and reached capacity an hour later, Gloss said.
A steady stream of overflow traffic snaked its way to the nearby Knightville Dam and Littleville Dam recreation areas run, where visitors were directed to when the state park closed.
Temperatures hit at least 91 in Springfield and 93 in Westfield but the humidity made it feel hotter, said Meteorologist Mike Skurko of CBS3, media partner of The Republican and Masslive.com.
“Dewpoints have been in the mid 70s which is unbearably oppressive. The heat index in Chicopee was 101,” he said.
The same weather is expected to continue Friday, Saturday and Sunday with temperatures in the low 90s and oppressive humidity, Skurko said.
A heat advisory is in effect. People are warned they should drink plenty of water and limit activity.
The heat wave should break by Monday with a weak system that will bring scattered rain, but temperatures will still be in the mid and upper 80s and the humidity will remain high, Skurko said.
Staff writer George Graham contributed to this report.