Hot hot hot: Worcester broils in late summer scorcher

WORCESTER – Is it hot enough for you?

It was plenty steamy Wednesday morning where roofer Otoniel Aguilar fixed slate shingles atop the Iglesia Adventista Central Church in Main South.

Aguilar made sure to take plenty of water breaks. He also wore a hat and a bandana around his neck to keep from baking in the hot sun on a day when the high temperature was expected to hit 90. Add in the heat index — known as the “feel like” temperature, a combination of air temperature and relative humidity — and those who had to be outside suffered with the feeling of navigating in the mid-90s.

Late summer heat is blanketing Worcester and most of Massachusetts, as a heat advisory is in effect through 8 p.m. Thursday. As of Wednesday afternoon, the advisory excluded regions along the coast, the Cape and Islands, Berkshire County and parts of Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties.

Record highs for Worcester could fall Wednesday and Thursday. The all-time high for Sept. 6 was 90 set in 1901, while the record high for Sept. 7 was also 90, set in 1945.

Air quality during this latest heat stretch is a potential problem for those living with respiratory problems including asthma. As of Wednesday afternoon, air quality in Worcester registered "moderate" on Summer Street downtown and "good" at the higher elevation at Worcester Regional Airport.

Cooling centers in Worcester

Meanwhile, City Hall planned to open three cooling centers Thursday and Friday for residents who needed relief from the heat.

Locations and hours include:

● Worcester Public Library Main Branch, 3 Salem Square, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

● Frances Perkins Library Branch, 470 West Boylston St., Thursday: noon to 8:30 p.m.; Friday: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

● Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence St., 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Those locations didn’t open as cooling centers Wednesday because the heat index in Worcester wasn’t expected to reach 95 degrees or higher, said a city spokesman. As of Wednesday afternoon, National Weather Service maps showed Worcester falling in the heat advisory zone.

What triggers a heat advisory?

Heat index values of 95 degrees and higher trigger a heat advisory by the National Weather Service, explained meteorologist Alan Dunham at the National Weather Service in Norton. High pressure offshore explains this latest stretch of high heat.

“We’re getting a lot of heat and humidity that the middle part of the country had for most of the summer. It’s worked its way overhead now,” said Dunham.

It may not be top of mind as we’re living through this temporary period of extreme heat, but it should be noted that Worcester and New England didn’t experience the extreme heat that buckled much of the U.S. this spring and summer. In fact, Worcester has yet to have an official heat wave this year, defined as three straight days of 90 degrees or higher.

Thursday could feel hotter than Wednesday

Meanwhile, Thursday could feel more uncomfortable than Wednesday because the high temperature is expected to hit the mid-90s. Friday’s forecast calls for highs in the upper 80s, but Dunham said it will feel like the low 90s when the heat index is factored in.

Clark University student Simon Pinchbeck had a plan to beat the heat. It started with carrying a large iced coffee, which Pinchbeck was spotted doing Wednesday morning on his way to classes. Gulps from that oversized plastic cup provide relief for his parched throat and Pinchbeck said he will spend the next few days in the Clark library. It has air conditioning, while his apartment doesn’t.

“I live on the top floor and it’s crazy hot. I can feel the heat rising as I walk up the floors in my building,” said Pinchbeck. “I can’t wait for winter.”

Victor Ortiz was spotted pushing a cart full of collected bottles and cans along Main Street in Main South on his way to depositing them for cash. Wearing a visor for protection against the broiling elements, the 71-year-old Ortiz said he sometimes gets dizzy in the heat.

“I drink a lot of water,” he said, uttering the word “unbelievable” to describe the 90-degree temperature Wednesday. “I grew up in Puerto Rico and it's hotter here in Worcester.”

What's in store for Worcester?

A relative cooling-off period is on the way, with temperatures Saturday expected to reach the mid-80s, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Sunday could be a repeat and temperatures could drop further into the mid- to upper-70s Monday and Tuesday. Monday could bring a few rain showers.

The Telegram & Gazette is investigating the effects of a rapidly heating planet on people who live in our city. Follow along with "City on Fire" as we report the struggle with summer temperatures, even in New England. This is part of the USA TODAY project Perilous Course. Contact reporter Henry Schwan to be included in a story if you have been affected by heat: expense of air conditioning or lack of it, health risks, less access to green space, concern about pets and animals in the summer conditions, worry about an older loved one, etc.

Contact Henry Schwan at henry.schwan@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter: @henrytelegram.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester broils in summer heat, humidity with temperatures near 90