Mass. Interior Suffers Through Another Hot One

Massachusetts is suffering through another steamy day, although temperatures are down a bit.

The National Weather Service reports that temperatures Wednesday reached about 90 degrees in most parts of the state, well below the triple-digit temperatures that scorched much of the state Tuesday.

The Connecticut River Valley in the western part of the state was getting hit hardest, with temperatures in Springfield and surrounding areas reaching the low 90s. Heat advisories are in effect for western Massachusetts until 7 p.m.

Most coastal areas were slightly cooler, with Boston reaching the low 80s by mid-day. Though the mercury didn't reach as high as Tuesday, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino kept cooling centers open throughout the city for the second straight day.

The state's major utilities reported some scattered power outages, as crews are working to restore power to more than 1,400 customers.

Neither the state Public Health Department nor the Emergency Management Agency knew of any heat-related deaths.

On Wednesday morning, EMS spokeswoman Jennifer Mehigan says first responders are expecting more heat-related calls — following a 50 percent jump in calls Tuesday.

"Yesterday was a very busy day," she said. "It was very hot. And again it is going to be very warm, at least in the 90s, all week. We'd ask people again to heed the warnings."