A “very hot and humid air mass” is expected to drive temperatures in the greater Red Bank area to the mid-90s Wednesday, prompting government agencies to issue health advisories to sensitive populations.
A heat advisory alert from the National Weather Service warns of particularly hot and humid conditions between noon and 8 p.m.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is advising the elderly, infirm and pet owners of the need to stay indoors as ozone rises and outdoor conditions become unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Here’s the text of the NWS heat advisory:
A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT
THURSDAY.
* LOCATIONS…THE LEHIGH VALLEY IN PENNSYLVANIA AND MUCH OF
CENTRAL AND NORTHERN NEW JERSEY.
* HAZARDS…EARLY SEASON HEATWAVE…WITH THE MOST DANGEROUS
CONDITIONS IN THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. A VERY
HOT AND HUMID AIR MASS WILL CAUSE TEMPERATURES TO SWELL INTO
THE MID AND UPPER 90S AND CREATE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS.
* HEAT INDEX VALUES…AROUND 100.
* IMPACTS…THE ELDERLY…THE INFIRM…CHILDREN AND PETS ARE AT
GREATEST RISK…ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE IS NO AIR CONDITIONING.
THIS AFFECTS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES…ESPECIALLY DURING THE
AFTERNOON HOURS. SLEEPING CAN BE DISRUPTED WHERE AIR
CONDITIONING IS NOT AVAILABLE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS
EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY
WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE
POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED
ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND
NEIGHBORS.
TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN
POSSIBLE…RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITY TO EARLY MORNING OR LATE
EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT
STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN
POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.
TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK…THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS
IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY
HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE
IS AN EMERGENCY – CALL 9 1 1.
AT A MINIMUM…SEE TO IT THAT PETS HAVE ACCESS TO A SHADED AND
WELL-VENTILATED AREA AND PLENTY OF COOL WATER. THE MOST HUMANE
THING TO DO IS TO BRING THEM INTO AN AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT.
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANYONE UNATTENDED IN A VEHICLE FOR ANY LENGTH
OF TIME. IT COULD RESULT IN THEIR DEATH.
Here’s the complete forecast:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 95. West wind 7 to 14 mph becoming south.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. West wind between 5 and 7 mph.
Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 100. West wind between 8 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. West wind between 6 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. North wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Sunday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Monday: Partly sunny, with a high near 78.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
