BOSTON, Massachusetts — A heat advisory is now in effect for most of Massachusetts and southern New England, and forecasters are warning that it will feel far worse than the thermometer alone suggests.
The National Weather Service has extended the advisory through 8 p.m. Friday, with feels-like temperatures expected to push close to 100 degrees in and around Boston.
Friday Will Be the Worst of It
Friday is shaping up to be the hottest day of the stretch.
Highs in the low 90s are expected across much of southern New England, away from the South Coast. But it is not the air temperature that has forecasters concerned — it is the humidity.
Dew points are forecast to climb above 70 degrees, a threshold meteorologists classify as oppressive or tropical. At those levels, the body struggles to cool itself, and heat-related illness becomes a real risk — especially for the elderly, young children, and anyone working or exercising outdoors.
No Relief Overnight Either
What makes this stretch particularly brutal is the lack of overnight recovery.
Nighttime lows are expected to stay in the 70s through the weekend. That means no cool air coming through the windows, no real break for the body, and accumulated heat stress building day after day.
This pattern is expected to repeat through at least the weekend before conditions begin to ease early next week.
What This Means for Residents
For anyone in the advisory zone, this is not weather to take lightly.
Stay hydrated, limit time outdoors during peak afternoon hours, and check on elderly neighbors and family members who may not have air conditioning.
If you do not have AC at home, local cooling centers are among the safest options available during stretches like this.
Are you feeling the heat in your area? Share how you are staying cool in the comments below.