Heat dome over Boston bringing intense hot weather July 4th week

Key Points:

• An Extreme Heat Watch is in effect from Wednesday morning through Friday night for most of Massachusetts and Southern New England, excluding Cape Cod and the Berkshires, due to an intense heat wave driven by a large high-pressure system or "heat dome."
• Temperatures are expected to reach 102 degrees on Thursday in Boston, potentially breaking the daily record of 98 degrees, with heat indices rising to 105-110 degrees due to high humidity levels.
• Early mornings will offer the safest outdoor conditions, with temperatures in the 60s to 70s, but heat will intensify quickly during the day, necessitating precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses.
• Early week temperatures will be moderate, with highs in the 70s to low 80s across Southern New England, including Greater Boston, Central and Western Massachusetts, Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.
• Residents are advised to adapt to the heat by scheduling outdoor activities early in the morning and staying hydrated, as this heat wave is part of a broader trend of increasing high-temperature records linked to climate change.