The summer sun will show its full force for the first time this season as temperatures are expected to rise through the weekend, culminating on Monday when the National Weather Service estimates it will reach 98 degrees Fahrenheit in Northampton.
According to Alan Dunham, who works for the National Weather Service in Taunton, the warm weather throughout the weekend is caused by “high pressure offshore and a south west wind, which is bringing warm air from the center of the country.”
Despite the expected warm temperatures, Dunham said the weather will likely not be a heat wave. According to Dunham, a heat wave is when there are three consecutive days in which the temperature reaches at least 90 degrees. Temperatures are only expected in the mid-80s on Saturday and upper 80s on Sunday.
Dunham advised manual laborers and people planning to exercise on Monday to use caution, drink water and stay hydrated.
“If you are going to exercise, do it in the morning, or in the evening,” said Dunham.
Dunham also advised people with respiratory problems and the elderly to stay inside with air conditioning. According to Dunham, a cold front is moving in Tuesday that will drop the temperature back down to the 80s.