Heat advisories will be in place in Lehigh, upper Bucks and Hunterdon counties but you need to know the signs heat illnesses wherever you live in the region.
It began to set in on the appropriately named Sunday, with a high temperature of 90.
But now it's getting serious.
The National Weather Service will have heat advisories in place today in Lehigh, upper Bucks and Hunterdon counties with the high temperatures reaching into the mid 90s today and the heat index flirting with 100. The advisories begin at noon and stretch until 8 tonight, the weather service says.
Despite Northampton and Warren counties not being included in this morning's advisories, it's going to be dangerously hot in both places as well.
Today's regional record high is 98, set in 1995.
The heat wave -- technically defined as three consecutive days or more with high temperatures at 90 degrees or above -- is expected to last all week, the weather service said.
The worst of it today should be between 2 and 6 this afternoon, the weather service said. Those most at risk are the very young and those older than 50, the weather service said. Pets can also be in danger, especially in cars, the weather service said.
The combination of high heat and high humidity makes heat illnesses possible, such as cramps, heat stroke and heat exhaustion, the weather service said.
And heat can be deadly, the weather service said.
The heat wave is likely to peak Thursday and Friday, the weather service said.
Take extra precaution if you have to spend extended amounts of time outside, the weather service said. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and drink plenty of water, the weather service said. Check on neighbors and relatives. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, the weather service said.
Stay out of direct sunlight and take frequent breaks in air-conditioned areas, the weather service said. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool, shaded area and 911 must be called, the weather service said. Heat stroke is an emergency, the service warns.
"While we have recently faced a long period of hot weather, tomorrow’s forecast indicates it will be the most dangerous conditions we have seen this summer," Hunterdon County emergency management chief Brayden Fahey said in a news release. "If someone is experiencing a medical emergency the 911 system should be activated and professional assistance summoned quickly.”
Hunterdon County uses its public libraries as cooling centers, according to its Facebook page. The main library is at 314 Route 12 in Flemington (9-5 Monday, 9-9, Tuesday through Thursday, at 9-5 Friday and Saturday and 1-5 on Sunday), the North County library is at 61 Halstead St. in Clinton (9-5 Monday, 9-9 Tuesday through Thursday, 9-5 Friday and Saturday and closed Sunday) and the South County library is at 1432 Route 179 Unit B, Lambertville (9-5 Monday, 9-9 Tuesday and Wednesday, 9-5 Thursday through Saturday and closed on Sunday).
"Our office will continue to monitor this event through the week, Brayden Fahey said. "We encourage residents without air conditioning to take advantage of the cooling centers that will be open during their normal hours of operation. It is also important for those without air conditioning to consider the possibility of staying with friends or family who has AC in their homes, or visiting shopping centers or other public buildings that can provide relief from the heat. We have plans in place to establish shelters should they be deemed necessary.”
The Hackettstown Municipal Building, 215 W. Stiger St., will be used as a cooling center 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, town police announced this morning.
Northampton County head of emergency management Bob Mateff said so far there have been no requests from county municipalities for cooling centers. The county is also keeping an eye on incoming emergency calls to see if there are any trends involving heat-related problems, he said. So far, there have been few, he said.
"So far it appears people are heeding the warnings," he said.
If you need some perspective, follow this link. The record for heat index in Philadelphia is 129 on July 17, 1995. I got stuck in traffic for more than two hours with no air conditioning trying to get on the Atlantic City Expressway during that heat wave. The heat index on July 15 that year was 124. I drank a liter of water sitting there and explained to my 14-year-old son -- who downed a liter as well -- the basics of operating a clutch in case I passed out, which fortunately I didn't.
Municipal-supported cooling centers in Hunterdon
• Califon:
Califon Borough Municipal Building,
39 Academy St.,
Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Clinton Township:
Annandale Hose Company #1,
68 Beaver Ave.,
908-735-8800, available upon request/as needed – call first
• Flemington:
Flemington Borough Hall,
38 Park Ave.,
908-782-8840,
Monday noon – 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Friday 9 a.m. – 4:30p.m.
• Flemington Library:
118 Main St.,
908-782-5733,
Monday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.,
Tuesday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Wednesday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.,
Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Hampton:
Hampton Borough Municipal Building,
1 Wells Ave.,
908-537-2329,
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Holland Township:
Holland Township Fire Company Station #1,
971 Milford Warren Glen Road,
11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday
(Note: There is no established cooling center at the Community Center.)
• City of Lambertville:
The Free & Public Library of the City of Lambertville,
6 Lilly St., 609-397-0275,
lfpl@lambertvillelibrary.org
• Readington Township:
Township of Readington Municipal Building,
509 Route 523,
908-534-5909,
8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
(Note: Residents may also use the Three Bridges library during hours of operation.)
• West Amwell Township:
West Amwell Township Municipal Building,
150 Rocktown-Lambertville Road, 609-397-2054,
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.