By Owen Boss
Staff Writer
Wednesday's record-breaking high temperatures had residents across the Valley switching on the air conditioning and looking for any way to beat the heat.
According to the National Weather Service, Wednesday's high of 97 degrees, recorded at 4 p.m. at Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, shattered the previous record for the day of 90 degrees, set on May 26, 1965.
"I knew it was going to be hot and I heard on the radio that there was a good chance that we were going to break a daily record," said Cynthia Roberts, of Florence, who stopped by Musante Beach in Leeds Wednesday afternoon with her daughter and partner to escape the hot and humid weather.
As for the water? Roberts said stepping in was far more pleasant than she expected it to be in late May.
"It was absolutely gorgeous," Roberts said. "We expected it to be freezing, but it was wonderful."
The unseasonable heat can be attributed to a far-reaching northern jet stream that News 22 Meteorologist Brian Lapis said allowed for warmer southern air to sweep up through southern New England.
"Whenever we get a jet stream that far to our north, it tends to open up the door for high temperatures more typical of the Southern states this time of year," Lapis said.
Heavy thunderstorms moved in from the north late Wednesday, and although hot and muggy weather will continue into the day today, Lapis said he expects showers or thunderstorms this afternoon will usher in cooler temperatures lasting into the holiday weekend.
"Over the next two days that same jet stream is going to work its way back south, and it will bring with it some cooler air from the north," Lapis said. "I'm forecasting high temperatures in the 70s for Friday and Saturday, a high of 86 on Sunday, and we could reach as high as 90 degrees on Memorial Day with a couple of scattered showers."
Lapis said he doesn't expect the rain to be enough to disrupt any local Memorial Day celebrations.
"I don't think we are going to end up with a ton of rain or a hard soaking rain on Monday," Lapis said.
According to the Center for Disease Control's website, when dealing with unusually high temperatures it is particularly important to keep an eye on those at highest risk of heat-related illnesses, including infants, young children, senior citizens and the mentally ill.
The best ways to prevent heat-related illnesses, according to the site, are to drink a lot of fluids, stay indoors or in an air-conditioned environment whenever possible and wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing.
Another concern associated with unseasonably high temperatures is for the welfare of local pets, said Dr. Ellie Shelburne, a veterinarian at the Northampton Veterinary Clinic on South Street, where several older pets were brought in to cool off Wednesday afternoon.
"When dealing with heat the more serious problems are typically associated with dogs, because cats seem to help themselves when it comes to staying cool and dogs tend to overdo it," Shelburne said. "The best thing you can do is make sure they have plenty of water, shave them down if they have a thick coat or soak them down with the hose if they've been out exercising."
Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com.
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