Excessive Heat, Severe Thunderstorms Possible in Mercer County

An excessive heat warning has been issued for the Philadelphia metropolitan area, including Mercer County, according to the National Weather Service and the state police.

He warning is in affect from noon Thursday through 6 p.m. Friday, with the heat index reaching between 105 to 109 degrees with a combination of high humidity.

“The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely,” the National Weather Service said.

The highest temperatures are expected Thursday afternoon between 2 to 5 p.m. and severe thunderstorms are possible on Friday, according to the NWS. 

The expected high temperature in Princeton Thursday is 95 degrees.

Mercer County offers designated Summer Cooling Sites including all municipal senior centers, neighborhood community centers and the nine Mercer County Library System Branches. Please note that Senior Centers are only open Monday through Friday. Call individual locations for daily hours of operation. Library branches are closed on Sundays throughout the summer.

The following Mercer County library branches are cooling sites: Ewing, Hickory Corner, Hightstown, Hollowbrook, Hopewell, Lawrence, Robbinsville, Twin Rivers and West Windsor.

Princeton Senior Resource Center is also a local cooling site.

The National Weather Serve has offered the following tips:

• Drink plenty of fluids
• Wear light and loose fitting clothing
• Stay in an air-conditioned room
• Stay out of the sun
• Check up on relatives and neighbors
• Take precaution working or spending time outside
• Reschedule strenuous activity to early morning or evening
• Call 9-1-1 for heat strokes

For more information visit http://www.ready.gov/heat