FRAMINGHAM, MA– The National Weather Service,(of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – “NOAA”), has issued an “Excessive Heat Watch” for the Middlesex County and the greater Framingham area which, in-part, advised:

“…A PROLONGED PERIOD OF EXCESSIVE HEAT ARRIVES TODAY….HOT WEATHER ALONG WITH OPPRESSIVE HUMIDITY ARRIVES TODAY AND CONTINUES INTO SATURDAY. THE HEAT WAVE WILL LIKELY BREAK SUNDAY……HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING……EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY LEAD TO HEAT ILLNESSES FOR CHILDREN…THE ELDERLY AND THOSE PERFORMING STRENUOUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE HEAT OF THE DAY.“

In response, the Town of Framingham has sent our news alerts about “Cooling Locations” where anyone who needs to “seek shelter/relief from the unusual heat and humidity” may go.

Additionally, the Framingham Park & Rec Department has issued an advisory that Waushakum Beach is closed due to poor water quality, and that they will open the Keefe Tech Pool tomorrow so residents may use it instead-

List of Cooling Locations:

Thursday, July 21, 2011:

• Framingham Town Hall (Memorial Building) will be open until 11 PM
• Callahan Senior Center (475 Union Ave) will be open until 8 PM
• McAuliffe Branch Library (Corner of Nicholas Rd & Water St.), will be open until 9 PM
• Main Library (Lexington St.) will be open until 9 PM

Friday, July 22, 2011

• Framingham Town Hall (Memorial Building) will be open until 5 PM
• Callahan Senior Center (475 Union Ave) will be open until 8 PM
• McAuliffe Branch Library(Corner of Nicholas Rd & Water St.), will be open until 5 PM
• Main Library (Lexington St., Costin Room) will be open until 8 PM

 

Info About Beaches & Keefe Tech Pool:

• Due to poor water quality, swimming at Waushakum Beach (Nipmuc Rd.) will not be allowed until the Board of Health re-tests the water.

• Saxonville Beach (Lake Rd.) or Learned Pond (Shawmut Terrace) are both open from  10:00a.m. ’til 7:00p.m.

• The Keefe Tech Pool (corner of Winter St. and Fountain St.) will be open for public use on Friday, July 22, 2011 from 7:30-9:30pm.

MA DEP Air Quality Advisory:

Due to the high heat and humidity, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, (MA “DEP”), has also issued a Air Quality Advisory regarding ozone and “fine particles” for those in who are sensitive to such conditions, (elderly persons, small children, people with respiratory health concerns, etc). The advisory states that such persons “should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors”, and that [normally healthy individuals] in the general public  are “not likely to be affected when the AQI is in this range.”

Information for this article was supplied by NOAA, the Massachusetts DEP, and the Town of Framingham.  For additional information visit the NOAA Weather Alerts page at: alerts.weather.gov, The Mass. DEP at: public.dep.state.ma.us and the Framingham town government website at: www.framinghamma.gov

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