Sizzling Temperatures Take Early Toll [Updated]

Update, 11:57 a.m.: Make that 100°.

Update, 11:24 a.m.: If our friends at The Weather Channel are correct, Darien has already pushed past National Weather Service projections to a heat index of 105°—and it's not yet noon. Actual temperature reported at 99°.

Update, 11:07 a.m.: CL&P reports that just 71 customers are without power in Darien now, down from 414 an hour earlier.

Update, 11:00 a.m.: The National Weather Service's heat advisory only now goes into effect, and already it's 98° (with a heat index of 104° and humidity at 39%). Still not close to the Darien record (103°, set on July 4, 1966), but it's sure shaping up to be a hot one!

Update, 10:47 a.m.: The First Selectman's office sends along this extended list of cooling centers:

• Town Hall
• The Darien Senior Activities Center, open until 3:00 p.m.
• The YWCA, open until 4:00 p.m. (after 11:00 am, the toddler room—along with toys—will also be available)
• The YMCA, open after 4:00 p.m. for showers

As a reminder: contact Darien Police's routine number (203-662-5300) for after-hours cooling center information. Do not call 911 unless there is an emergency.

Update, 10:22 a.m.: Power has been restored Darien Library, which will now reopen, reports director Louise Berry.

Update, 10:17 a.m.: A CL&P spokesman reports that the outage was due to an equipment failure on West Ave., but that power is expected to be restored within the hour.

Update, 10:07 a.m.: CL&P's outage report shows 414 Darien customers without power as of 10:05 a.m., up slightly from an hour ago.

Scorching temperatures appeared to have taken an early toll on Darien Tuesday morning, as more than 400 customers—or roughly 5% of the households in town served by CL&P—were reported without power.

Included in that figure was the Darien Library, which would normally serve as a cooling center in hot weather. The building is set to close at 10 a.m. if power is not restored, the office reported.

Those seeking relief from the heat are encouraged to go to visit the Darien Senior Activities Center or Town Hall, both of which had power as of 9:45 a.m.

Also affected: multiple traffic lights along West Avenue, which has been closed by the Darien Police Department until further notice.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Darien, forecasting temperatures of 95° to 100° and a heat index of up to 104°. The alert remains in effect from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.