Get Ready, New Hampshire: ‘Surge Of Heat’ Heading To The Granite State

CONCORD, NH — Hot and humid temperatures are heading to the region this weekend, according to weather forecasters.

AccuWeather.com is warning nearly 100 million people, including most of New Hampshire, will experience, potentially record-breaking, hot weather on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday will be the hottest day of the year, so far, for most states.

Temps are expected to be in the upper 80s or 90s possibly reaching 100 degrees. The heat will continue into Sunday but then a “strong front” of showers and thunderstorms were expected to move into the state and cool things down.

"Very warm and muggy conditions are in store Saturday night, and that will set the stage for hot and humid conditions on Sunday along much of the Interstate 95 corridor,” AccuWeather Lead Long-Range Meteorologist Paul Pastelok said, “despite increasing cloudiness produced by the approaching cool front from the Midwest.”

The National Weather Service, however, warned against swimming since, while visually inviting, water temps were still very cold in New Hampshire.

Forecasters from NWS noted records in Concord might be broken this weekend. The previous high for Saturday was 93 degrees in 1871; the prior high for Sunday was 98 degrees in 1911.

They also noted a heat advisory has never been issued during the month of May by the NWS — but the streak may end tomorrow.

Homeland Security Issues Alert

State officials are warning residents to prepare for the hot temperatures on Saturday.

The Department of Safety’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said on Friday residents should prepare for the heat advisory between noon on Saturday and 8 p.m. on Sunday — mainly in Cheshire, Hillsborough, Merrimack, and interior Rockingham County.

Heat, Jennifer Harper, the director of the department, is one of the leading weather-related killers in the country — with hundreds of fatalities each year.

“Take the necessary steps to protect yourself and your family, including your pets, from heat-related illness,” she said. “During extreme heat, stay hydrated and take extra precautions, such as frequent breaks, if you work or spend time outside.”

Harper offers the following safety tips:

• Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
• Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty.
• Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
• Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat.
• Go to a designated public shelter if your home loses power during periods of extreme heat. Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
• Sign up for NH Alerts to receive emergency information via your mobile and landline phones, including severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service and emergency information from HSEM.
• Check the weather and listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical updates from the National Weather Service.

If you must go outside:

• Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.
• Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
• Protect your face and head by wearing sunblock and a wide-brimmed hat.
• Limit exposure to the sun.

Residents and visitors can learn more at ReadyNH.gov.

The latest weather conditions can be found on the front page of every Patch.com site in the United States including the 12 New Hampshire Patch news and community websites (Amherst, Bedford, Concord, Exeter, Hampton, Londonderry, Merrimack, Milford, Nashua, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Salem, and Windham). Local weather reports for New Hampshire are posted on Sundays and Thursdays. Alerts are published when needed.

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