Boston will remain in a heat emergency through Tuesday, with temperatures expected to reach a record-setting 100 degrees.
“With this heat emergency coming as we kick off the summer season, we ask our community members to please take care and prepare accordingly for the extreme heat,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. … “Be sure to stay hydrated, take breaks from working outside and regularly check in on neighbors, friends, and family.”
The week is expected to kick off Monday with “dangerous heat and humidity,” reaching a high in the mid-90s. Temperatures are expected to only get hotter Tuesday, according to National Weather Service forecasts.
“There’ll be a brief break for Boston (Monday), because there’s going to be a sea breeze,” said National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Cadima. “So it won’t be quite as hot as some of the areas to the west, but by Tuesday, it looks like Boston could get close to 100 degrees.”
Boston is likely to break the previous heat record for June 24 set at 95 degrees in 2013, Cadima said. The record high for June in Boston is 100 degrees, set three times in 1925, 1952 and 2021.
The City of Boston declared a heat emergency over the weekend through Tuesday night. The city will take steps during the emergency including open splash pads and pools throughout the city, Boston Public Library locations available to escape the heat, and BCYF cooling centers open to the general public.
City and state officials urge residents to take certain precautions during heat emergencies, including never leaving children or pets in unattended cars, take breaks from being outside, staying hydrated by drinking water every 15-20 minutes and not setting any outdoor fires in Boston.
“You want to escape the heat if you can,” said Cadima. “Stay in air conditioned places and avoid strenuous activity, avoid direct sunlight when you’re doing any physical activities.”
Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, cool and clammy skin, dizziness, nausea, and muscle aches, and anyone suffering persistent symptoms should call 911 immediately, Boston official said. The heat may be dangerous and deadly for older adults, young children, people with chronic medical conditions, and individuals without access to cooling or shelter.
“If you fall into one of these higher-risk groups, or care for someone who does, it is especially important to take precautions: stay cool, stay hydrated, and seek medical attention if you begin experiencing signs of heat-related illness,” said Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Director Dawn Brantley.
More information on heat emergency preparedness can be found at boston.gov/heat. Residents can also call 311 with any questions about available City services during the emergency.
“The heat starts to slowly ease on Wednesday,” said Cadima. “It looks like generally in Boston, probably like the mid to upper 80s Wednesday. And then it cools off dramatically for the rest of the week into the weekend with highs in the 70s.”
Wednesday is expected to remain in mostly sunny and hot, NWS forecasts. On Thursday, the high lowers to the mid-70s, forecasts show, with mostly cloudy skies and a chance of precipitation.
Friday heading into the weekend, highs are expected to dip into the low 70s, NWS forecasts show.
“There’s really daily chances of of showers from Wednesday right into the weekend,” said Cadima. “It won’t be raining all the time, but it’s just an unsettled period where each day there’ll likely be some pop up showers and maybe a few thunderstorms at times as well.”
