Farmers Market Canceled Due To 'Dangerous' Heat In Gloucester Township's Forecast

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — This week's Gloucester Township Farmers Market has been canceled because of "dangerous" heat in the forecast.

The market, which occurs each Thursday, will resume Aug. 3 at Harwan Park (32 S. Black Horse Pike).

Forecasters expect temperatures to soar Thursday and Friday. The National Weather Service predicts the township's heat-index values — a measure of how hot it feels when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature — to peak at 103 degrees Thursday and then 106 degrees the day after.

The federal agency placed Gloucester Township under both a heat advisory (in effect from 11 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Saturday) and an excessive heat watch (Friday morning through evening).

During a heat advisory, the combination of hot temperatures and high humidity enhances the likelihood of heat-related illnesses. An excessive heat watch indicates the increased risk of "extremely dangerous" heat conditions, the National Weather Service says.

Camden County Commissioner Virginia Betteridge advised the public to take precautions.

"When temperatures rise to dangerous levels, remember to stay inside as much as possible, drink plenty of water, and contact a physician if you or a loved one is showing signs of heat stress," Betteridge, liaison to the county health department, said in a statement. "It is important that residents continue to check on vulnerable friends, family and neighbors to ensure that they are safe and able to stay cool."

Here's the National Weather Service's latest forecast for Gloucester Township:

• Wednesday afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 91. Southwest wind around 5 mph.
• Wednesday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. South wind around 5 mph.
• Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 103. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Thursday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. Southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. West wind around 10 mph.
• Friday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
• Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent.