Salem YMCA Opens Pool Free To All Amid Dangerous Heat

SALEM, MA — Salem residents will be able to swim at the YMCA pool on Sewall over the next couple of days regardless of Y membership.

The YMCA of the North Shore Salem location opened the pool to all because of this week's record-breaking heat.

The YMCA is set to be open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday.

With temperatures threatening a record-breaking 100 degrees on Thursday, Salem is looking to provide residents in need with some relief.

The city opened a cooling center at the Jean Levesque Community Life Center from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday free for any resident in need.

The Peabody Essex Museum will also be open to residents in need of a cooldown free of charge during normal operating hours.

The city splash pads at Mary Jane Lee Park (corner of Palmer Street and Prince Street) and Forest River Park (32 Clifton Avenue) are operational and free to all.

The intense heat was expected to send temperatures soaring into the 100s in some areas of Massachusetts Thursday, smashing Boston's record for the hottest Aug. 4 which was set in 1928 when the mercury reached 96 degrees.

And a cold front expected to sweep into the Bay State Friday isn't likely to provide much relief either. Friday isn't expected to be as hot, but the humidity will make it feel just as unbearable.

With the cold front will also come a few storms providing heavy rain, giving Massachusetts an almost tropical feel as the temperatures linger in the upper 90s, AccuWeather says.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)