Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

Situational Awareness Statement # 1

Subject: Dangerous Heat and Humidity Week of 6/17

Date/Time: 6/17/2024  10:30 AM

Incident or Event Overview

Situation

The National Weather Service (NWS) in conjunction with the MEMA Agency Meteorologist are forecasting a multi-day period of dangerous heat and humidity this week with heat indices ranging between 95 and 106 degrees across portions the Commonwealth, excluding the Cape/Islands and far southern Bristol and Plymouth counties. The highest heat indices are expected to reside over Middlesex, Essex, and Norfolk Counties, as well as across the Connecticut River Valley where an Excessive Heat Watch is in effect for heat indices of 105 degrees or greater. This period of potentially dangerous heat begins on Tuesday and persists through Friday.

The heat is expected to break over the weekend but will remain humid and seasonably warm. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are possible over the weekend. 

Hazard Impacts/Potential Impacts

• Heat related illnesses related to outdoor activity, with particular concern regarding celebrations of the Juneteenth holiday.
• Heat related illnesses in vulnerable populations, particularly those without air conditioning or with poor ventilation.

Weather Forecast Overview

Watches, Warnings or Advisories for Massachusetts

Heat Advisory

6/17/2024 03:41 EDT through 6/20/2024 20:00 EDT

Northern Berkshire, MA; Southern Berkshire, MA

Heat Advisory

6/17/2024 02:19 EDT through 6/21/2024 19:00 EDT

Western Franklin, MA; Northern Worcester, MA; Eastern Essex, MA; Western Hampshire, MA; Western Hampden, MA; Southern Worcester, MA; Suffolk, MA; Eastern Norfolk, MA; Northern Bristol, MA; Western Plymouth, MA; Eastern Plymouth, MA; Northwest Middlesex County, MA

Excessive Heat Watch

6/17/2024 02:19 EDT through 6/21/2024 19:00 EDT

Eastern Franklin, MA; Central Middlesex County, MA; Western Essex, MA; Eastern Hampshire, MA; Eastern Hampden, MA; Western Norfolk, MA; Southeast Middlesex, MA

More information available at https://alerts.weather.gov/search?area=MA

Weather Graphics

MEMA Region Updates

MEMA East and

MEMA West

Significant Issues

• Local coordinators are conducting outreach to communities to address any unmet needs, identify communities planning to open cooling centers, and identify health and personal safety concerns related to the upcoming Juneteenth holiday celebrations and large events.
• Open cooling centers should be entered into the Community Status Board, under Shelters, in WebEOC.

Unmet Needs

None at this time.

MEMA Operations

The State Emergency Operations Center is operating at Level I (Steady State/Monitoring). MEMA will continue to monitor the situation and will disseminate additional Situational Awareness Statements (SAS) as necessary.

Safety Tips for Specific Threats and Hazards

• Extreme Heat Safety Tips https://www.mass.gov/info-details/extreme-heat-safety-tips

Stay Informed

For additional information and updated forecasts, see https://www.weather.gov/box/ (NWS Boston/Norton), and https://www.weather.gov/aly/ (NWS Albany).

Use MEMA’s real-time power outage map to stay informed about current power outages in your community/county, and across the state, including information from utility providers http://mema.mapsonline.net/public.html

Online Resources

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency www.mass.gov/mema  

MEMA’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MassachusettsEMA

MEMA Twitter https://twitter.com/MassEMA

Federal Emergency Management Agency https://www.fema.gov/

National Weather Service Boston/Norton https://www.weather.gov/box/

National Weather Service Albany NY https://www.weather.gov/aly/

NOAA/NWS Storm Prediction Center https://www.spc.noaa.gov/

Northeast River Forecast Center https://www.weather.gov/nerfc/

National Hurricane Center https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Mass 211 https://mass211.org/

Report developed by Kyle Garner, All-Hazards Planner

24/7 MEMA Dispatch Phone # (508) 820-2000