Morning Island Report: Heat Warning in Effect

Flags on the Ocean City Boardwalk on Friday afternoon said one thing, but a walk across the beach said quite another.

The flags showed a fairly steady sea breeze, usually a sign of cooler things to come. But the wind did little to take the edge off heat that topped 90 degrees on Friday.

And it looks like today will be even hotter. The National Weather Service is calling for a sunny day with a high near 95 degrees and heat index values (a measure of both heat and humidity) as high as 105. The marine forecast calls for light south winds, and the mainland forecast calls for light west winds. Though neither wind figures to provide a whole lot of relief, temperatures on the mainland are expected to be even higher.

The NWS has issued an excessive heat warning in effect from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday (July 7).

"An excessive heat warning means that a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur," according to the Weather Service.

The best places to be on Saturday will be in, on or near the ocean. The ocean temperature on Friday afternoon was 75.7 degrees. The ocean water all week has been see-your-feet clear and glassy smooth in the mornings — with the wind generating a slight chop in the afternoons.

The waves have been relatively small with maybe a few morning sets for the longboarders. But there doesn't appear to be much chance of a significant swell over the weekend.

High tide is at 10:13 a.m. and low tide at 4:14 p.m. on the ocean beaches in Ocean City.

The Ocean City Beach Patrol will protect 43 beaches on the island until 5:30 p.m. today. Beaches at Eighth, Ninth and 12th streets will be guarded until 8 p.m. tonight as part of the OCBP's .

Here are some ways to keep tabs on the weather in real time:

•  surf cam at Fourth Street: Surf cam
• The Surfers View surf cam at Second Street: Surf cam
• 48th Street: Beach cam
• Ocean water temperature: At Atlantic City's Steel Pier
• Bay temperature and tide levels at the Bayside Center (Sixth and Bay) in Ocean City