Air Quality Alert Added To Heat Advisory Wednesday For Wayne And North Jersey

WAYNE, NJ — Another hot, humid day has developed in Wayne Township, with the high temperature forecast to be near 94 degrees. In addition to Wednesday's heat advisory, there is also a "code orange" air quality alert for ground-level ozone in Wayne Township, said weather officials.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued an "Air Quality Action Day" for Bergen, Essex, Union, Hudson, and eastern Passaic counties until 11 p.m. Wednesday evening. Ground level ozone in the region may approach or go over unhealthy standards, making it more difficult to breathe for some people.

"Sensitive individuals, including the very young, the elderly, and persons with respiratory diseases such as asthma, should avoid strenuous activities during the afternoon and early evening hours," said the DEP.

The National Weather Service also extended a heat advisory in eastern Passaic County, and other parts of northeastern New Jersey, until Thursday at 8 p.m.

Wayne Township Schools students will have a shortened day Wednesday for their first day back to class, as well as Thursday.

A number of other districts across the Garden State will send students home early, as the heat is set to peak Wednesday. Some towns will see heat index temperatures in the triple digits, though Wayne's heat index values are forecast to peak at 97.

Heat index values in Wayne could get up to 99 degrees on Thursday, before a chance of showers and thunderstorms comes in to relieve the region of this late summer heat.

Here is a look at the forecast for Wayne through Friday, from the National Weather Service:

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 97. Northwest wind around 6 mph.

Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 73. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Thursday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny, with a high near 94. Heat index values as high as 99. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Friday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.

Friday night: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Related articles:

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• Heat Will Shorten First Day Of School In Wayne Township
• Heat Advisory Extended In Wayne With Temps In 90s: See Latest Forecast