Framingham Opening Cool Centers During Heat Wave

FRAMINGHAM, MA — This could be the hottest stretch of 2021 so far.

The National Weather Service on Tuesday morning issued a heat advisory for most of southern New England, predicting that temperatures will likely exceed 100 degrees in most of central and eastern parts of Massachusetts. The heat advisory begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday, and will be followed by an excessive heat watch on Thursday morning.

The Framingham area could see the heat index well in excess of 100 degrees on Thursday, which is expected to be the hottest day of the week — although Wednesday, Friday and Saturday may also feel at or near 100 degrees, according to the weather service.

This week's heat wave follows a record-setting stretch of heat at the end of June, when heat indices reached the low 100s. The weather service is cautioning residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activity and to drink plenty of fluids.

Framingham is opening cooling centers beginning on Wednesday. The main library will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the McAulliffe Branch will be open 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Callahan Center will be open 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Face coverings must be worn inside the cooling centers, per a new citywide order.

Here's the National Weather Service heat wave forecast for Framingham this week:

Wednesday: Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 9 mph.

Wednesday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 11pm and midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. Southwest wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 7pm and midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday: A chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Southwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southwest wind 3 to 5 mph.

Saturday: A chance of showers after 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers before 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%.