SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT

National Weather Service Taunton MA
344 AM EDT Sat Jun 25 2005

Heat indices between 95 and 105 degrees expected for several hours during this afternoon

A strong Bermuda high pressure will bring a hot and humid airmass into the region for this weekend. Under mostly sunny skies high temperatures will rise into the 90S today, hottest in urban centers. On Sunday, highs will likely again rise into the lower 90S across Southern Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and Northern Rhode Island.

The worst day for the heat and humidity will be today when surface dewpoints are expected to climb into the 65 to 70 degree range. The combination of the intense heat and humidity this afternoon will result in heat index values of 97 to 105 degrees.

The warm and humid air Mass will prevent temperatures from cooling all that much tonight. Most urban areas in Southern New England will remain above 70 degrees all night.

If you plan to be outside during this weekend, especially Saturday, avoid prolonged exposure or strenuous physical activity. your body can lose up to a gallon of water an hour through perspiration. Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages can increase the rate of water loss in your body, increasing the risk of heat exhaustion or stroke. Also, under the summer time rays of Sun, remember to protect your skin with sunblock.