Heat Advisory Extended; Wayne Township Shortens First Day Of School Wednesday

WAYNE, NJ — Wednesday will be yet another hot day as Wayne Township students head to a (shortened) first day of school, and the National Weather Service has extended a heat advisory for the region.

Forecasters predict the late summer heat will linger through Thursday, before showers and thunderstorms cool things down. The National Weather Service extended a heat advisory in eastern Passaic County, and other parts of northeastern New Jersey, until Thursday at 8 p.m.

Heat index values are predicted to be in the upper 90s on Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures around 93 or 94 degrees, forecasters said.

High temperatures and humidity can cause heat illnesses, especially for people who work or do a lot of physical activity outside or somewhere that is not properly cooled. Elderly people, and those with certain physical or mental health conditions, are also at risk of getting heat-sick, said weather experts.

“Use air conditioning to stay cool at home or go to a place that has air conditioning,” the National Weather Service suggested. “Check on vulnerable friends, family members and neighbors.”

Heat-related illnesses can cause someone’s body temperature to rise to dangerous levels, and damage their organs. Anyone who becomes overwhelmed or sick from heat “should be moved to a cool and shaded location,” NWS experts added. “Heat stroke is an emergency! In cases of heat stroke, call 9-1-1.”

Forecasters issue a heat advisory “when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 95 to 99 degrees for two or more consecutive days, or 100 to 104 degrees for any length of time.”

Here is the forecast through Friday for Wayne Township, from the National Weather Service:

Tuesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 72. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 96. Northwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

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

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.

Thursday night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89.

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