Watering Ban, Heat Advisory Remain in Effect

A heat advisory and water restrictions remain in effect as the region braces for another day of temperatures in the mid to upper 90s.

Ridgewood Water has not altered its current status, with Stage IV restrictions applicable to its customers in Wyckoff, Ridgewood, Midland Park and Glen Rock. The utility's most severe status restricts residents and businesses from conducting any type of irrigation, either via sprinklers or hoses. The effort is an attempt to conserve water on a dry, oppressively hot day, with an eye toward having adequate supplies for public safety and fire concerns.

The National Weather Service has again issued a heat advisory until 7 p.m., saying increasing humidity combined with a temperature in the 90s will create conditions where it feels as if it's well over 100 degrees for a sustained period of several hours. In fact, the National Weather Service warns that today could be even more humid than Tuesday, when the heat index reached over 100 degrees.

The intense heat has already complicated the commutes of many throughout the state, as heat-related equipment failures have delayed or grounded NJ Transit trains. Check back with Patch later this afternoon for a commuting update.

Meanwhile, PSE&G had more than 6,000 of its more than 2 million customers without power as of this morning, although there are no widespread outages. Wednesday's usage was the highest of the year, although demand fell just short of the utility's all-time high, set on Aug. 2, 2006.

To report a power outage, call PSE&G's customer service line at 800-436-PSEG or by logging into "My Account" at www.pseg.com. Also, customers can keep up with any power updates at PSE&G's Twitter feed, at http://twitter.com/psegoutageinfo. 

However, the region could see some moderate relief soon. The National Weather Service forecasts temperatures in the lower 70s tonight, rising to the low 90s Thursday with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Current forecasts show similar weather through Saturday, with intermittent rain in the afternoons and a heat index that should "only" reach the mid 90s.

Bergen County has responded to the heat wave by designating four "cooling centers," including one in Midland Park, where residents can get a break from the weather. 

For the Board of Health's tips on how to stay safe during the heat wave, click here.

If you are concerned about a neighbor or relative's health and safety, call the Wyckoff police at 201-891-2121.