Jun 10, 2008 2:15 pm US/Eastern
Heat Wave's End Is Near
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
-
-
This picture submitted by Hannah Robbins shows how hot it was in the shade in Sutton Tuesday afternoon.
Hannah Robbins/WBZ
The good news is the end of the heat wave is in sight. The bad news is we have to get through Tuesday first.
The National Weather Service posted an excessive heat watch through Tuesday afternoon for a large portion of interior Massachusetts including Worcester and Springfield, where forecasters said the mercury could top out near 100 degrees.
By 6 p.m., Boston was at 91 degrees. Manchester, New Hampshire officially hit 100 degrees today.
The weather service also issued a tornado watch for western Massachusetts, western Connecticut and Vermont. That means conditions are favorable for tornadoes and severe thunderstorms.
State and federal environmental officials announced another day of unhealthy air quality in the region, due to a build-up of ground-level ozone. Officials have been urging residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activity throughout this heat wave.
Those most at risk are children, the elderly, and anyone with heart or lung conditions.
The city of Boston has opened several cooling centers to help people get relief from the heat.
Click here to find a location near you.
Forecasters say an approaching front could touch off scattered thunderstorms Tuesday night before ushering in cooler, drier air for the rest of the week.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)