Early Dismissals for Schools Thursday Due to Heat Wave

Updated 5:30 p.m.: The West Orange School District announced schools will close early Thursday due to projected temperatures.   

• Elementary Schools (K-5) will have an early dismissal time of 1 p.m.
• Middle Schools will have an early dismissal time of 12:30 p.m.
• West Orange High School will have an early dismissal of 12 p.m.
• Afternoon preschool will be cancelled. 

Meteorologists are predicting dangerous heat and poor air quality settling over northern New Jersey over the next couple of days as the region will experience the first heat wave of 2011, according to Accuweather.com.

Weather officials are forecasting a heat advisory for both Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 8 p.m. with excessive heat and humidity making temperatures feel well above 100 degrees.

Forecasters are calling for Wednesday temperatures ranging from a low of 95 degrees in Cedar Grove to a high of 98 degrees in Montclair and Verona. Thursday is no better, forecasters say, with Essex County temperatures ranging from 98 degrees in Cedar Grove to 101 degrees in Newark. 

According to Accuweather.com, a heat advisory is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 100 to 104 degrees for two consecutive hours.

People who work or spend time outside during those hours should take extra precautions during those time periods, including rescheduling strenuous activities.

According to state Climatologist Dr. David Robinson, three consecutive days with high temperatures equaling or exceeding 90 degrees must occur for the weather to be considered a heat wave.

Robinson said residents may think the state has had a heat wave already, but they'd be wrong.

"A ridge of high pressure is over the eastern U.S. and is serving to pump warm, increasingly humid air up form the South," said Robinson. "It looks like a frontal system will start coming through late Thursday and begin to moderate conditions."

One clue to tell of a coming heat wave is to watch for the temperature at night.

"Heat waves become most dangerous when the nights begin to be quite warm.  This means those without AC cannot catch a break, making for a cumulative dangerous situation," said Robinson.

Accuweather forecasters also forecast an air quality alert – meaning air quality in the region may approach or exceed unhealthy quality.

Christopher Freer, medical director for the emergency department at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, cautions people to use common sense.

On days like these, those most at risk are young children and the elderly.

"We don't see many problems with heat strokes, but we do see the elderly who aren't properly hydrated or don’t have air-conditioned apartments," said Freer.

Heatstroke symptoms include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, muscle cramps and dizziness. Most importantly, Freer warned people not to mix alcohol or drugs with the sun.

"The other people we see in the emergency department are those intoxicated with alcohol and drugs. Perception and common sense can be affected," said Freer. "Their regular judgment and common sense has deteriorated due to the effect of the alcohol and they can be at a high risk”