NPWBOX URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 457 AM EDT TUE AUG 1 2006 CTZ002>004-MAZ004>007-010>021-026-NHZ012-RIZ001>004-006-007- 011700- /O.CON.KBOX.EH.W.0001.060801T1600Z-060803T0000Z/ HARTFORD CT-TOLLAND CT-WINDHAM CT-NORTHERN WORCESTER MA- CENTRAL MIDDLESEX MA-WESTERN ESSEX MA-EASTERN ESSEX MA- EASTERN HAMPSHIRE MA-EASTERN HAMPDEN MA-SOUTHERN WORCESTER MA- WESTERN NORFOLK MA-SOUTHEAST MIDDLESEX MA-SUFFOLK MA- EASTERN NORFOLK MA-NORTHERN BRISTOL MA-WESTERN PLYMOUTH MA- EASTERN PLYMOUTH MA-SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-SOUTHERN PLYMOUTH MA- NORTHERN MIDDLESEX MA-EASTERN HILLSBOROUGH NH- NORTHWEST PROVIDENCE RI-SOUTHEAST PROVIDENCE RI-WESTERN KENT RI- EASTERN KENT RI-WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HARTFORD...WINDSOR LOCKS...UNION... VERNON...PUTNAM...WILLIMANTIC...BARRE...FITCHBURG...FRAMINGHAM... LOWELL...LAWRENCE...GLOUCESTER...AMHERST...NORTHAMPTON... SPRINGFIELD...MILFORD...WORCESTER...FOXBORO...NORWOOD... CAMBRIDGE...BOSTON...QUINCY...TAUNTON...BROCKTON...PLYMOUTH... FALL RIVER...NEW BEDFORD...MATTAPOISETT...AYER...MANCHESTER... NASHUA...FOSTER...SMITHFIELD...PROVIDENCE...WEST GREENWICH... WARWICK...NARRAGANSETT...WESTERLY...NEWPORT 457 AM EDT TUE AUG 1 2006 ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY... AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY. DANGEROUS HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL AFFECT MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TODAY...AND ESPECIALLY WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL SOAR WELL INTO THE 90S THIS AFTERNOON...AND WILL APPROACH 100 DEGREES IN THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY REGION OF WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL RESULT IN HEAT INDICES AROUND 105 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON...POSSIBLY 112 DEGREES IN THE HARTFORD AREA. WEDNESDAY WILL BE THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE WEEK...AS HIGH TEMPERATURES REACH 100 DEGREES OVER MOST OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. HEAT INDICES ARE LIKELY TO REACH AROUND 110 DEGREES WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WITH ISOLATED VALUES NEAR 115 DEGREES POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION...OVERNIGHT LOWS IN THE LARGER URBAN CENTERS MAY NOT FALL BELOW 80 DEGREES TONIGHT...AND POSSIBLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS WELL. THIS WILL PRESENT A CONTINUED DANGER FOR THOSE WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING OR PROPER VENTILATION. PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST 1975 WILL FIND SIMILARITIES TO THIS SPELL OF HOT WEATHER. THIS WILL BE AN EXTREME EVENT FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THE HEAT WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE A SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN...ESPECIALLY FOR THE ELDERLY...CHILDREN...AND THOSE WHO WORK OUTSIDE BETWEEN 11 AM AND 6 PM EACH DAY. PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND SHOULD PLAN ON ALTERING THEIR DAILY ROUTINE...IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HEAT EXHAUSTION... OR WORSE...BEING A CASUALTY OF LIFE THREATENING HEAT STROKE. AVOID STRENUOUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITY...ESPECIALLY FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH THE EVENING...AND SPEND TIME IN AIR CONDITIONING IF POSSIBLE. MAKE SURE ROOMS REMAIN PROPERLY VENTILATED IF AIR CONDITIONING IS NOT AVAILABLE...BY OPENING WINDOWS AND USING FANS. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE IN THE URBAN CENTERS. NO PERSON OR PET SHOULD EVER STAY IN AN ENCLOSED VEHICLE EVEN FOR THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME. TEMPERATURES QUICKLY RISE TO LIFE THREATENING LEVELS...EVEN IF THE WINDOWS ARE PARTIALLY OPENED. AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN HIGH HUMIDITIES ARE EXPECTED TO COMBINE WITH HOT TEMPERATURES RESULTING IN HEAT INDICES OF 105 DEGREES OR GREATER. AVOID PROLONGED WORK IN THE SUN OR POORLY VENTILATED AREAS. ALSO...DRINK PLENTY OF WATER AND TRY TO STAY IN AN AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT. STAY TUNED TO NOAA ALL HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR UPDATED INFORMATION.