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Why this week's early summer heat wave in Mass. poses particular health risks
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We're expected to hit triple digits today in Massachusetts for the first time in nearly three years. With the humidity, the National Weather Service says the heat index will make it feel like 105 to 110 degrees in most parts of the state. (Click here for the map.)
Meteorologist Danielle Noyes has the latest details on the forecast and the temperature records Boston could break.
Heat check: Triple-digit temps are dangerous any time of year. But as WBUR's Deborah Becker reports, this early-season heatwave poses special risks. Coming off a week in which the highs in Greater Boston were only in the 60s, the dramatic temperature jump can put strain on people's hearts, lungs and kidneys. Dr. Hillary Irons, an emergency room doctor at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, said that's because the increasing heat tells the body to redirect blood flow to the skin, making the heart work harder. "We're going from fairly cool temperatures or moderate up to these pretty high extremes," Irons told Deb. "Most New Englanders are not acclimatized to that type of heat. And so it does put us at a greater risk." WBUR's Martha Bebinger has more here on how extreme heat physically affects the body.
- It's not just in your head: Medical experts say the temperature variation also makes us uncomfortable, and spikes the stress hormone called cortisol. That can lead to cascading issues, including poor sleep and increased anxiety, Lousia Sylvia, a psychologist with Mass General Brigham, told WBUR's John Bender.
- Experts' advice: Stay out of the sun, stay hydrated and prepare for the possibility of more heat in the weeks ahead. (It's only the start of summer, and heat waves occur about three times more often than they did in the 1960s due to climate change, according to the U.S. Global Change Research Program.)
- In related news: While the Cape and Islands are the one place in Massachusetts where you may find some relative (emphasis on relative) relief from the heat, state officials warn the air quality in Massachusetts' five southeastern-most counties may be unhealthy for sensitive groups due to elevated ozone levels.
- Brush up: If you're still adjusting to what summer feels like, here's our always-useful list of things to do (and not do) during extreme heat in Massachusetts.
Stadium goals: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said we should get more clarity on the "hard costs" of the White Stadium renovation project in the "next few weeks." In an interview with WBUR's Sharon Brody, Wu said the $172 million estimate that mayoral challenger Josh Kraft recently claimed the city is now responsible for was taken out of context from an internal city document. "This number is not real, and it's quite irresponsible to be pulling something from a leaked document that really has not been part of any discussion or connected to actual project costs," Wu said.
- That said, Wu did hint the city's ultimate share for the new stadium could be higher than the current $90.1 million estimate. She said the city has already spent $5 million on demolition and hopes to pay around $10-12 million for the construction of the new foundation. "We'll see what comes with the market's responses at a time when the cost of steel and building materials and tariffs are ... up and down depending on what the whims of the president are on that particular day," Wu said. "We're hoping to lock in a good price, but there is an element of just seeing what the response will be to our documents."
Going west: The Celtics are trading Jrue Holiday back to the Portland Trail Blazers just a year after the defensive stopper helped Boston bring home its 18th NBA title. In return, the C's are getting Anfernee Simons and two second-round picks. Simons, known for his 3-point shooting and bouncy athleticism, could make up for some of the scoring power the Celtics are missing as Jayson Tatum recovers from his Achilles injury.
- Why are they doing this? Trading Holiday is part of the Celtics' effort to cut payroll in order to avoid an expensive luxury tax penalty known as the second apron. (Boston.com has a good explainer on how the second-apron works here.)
P.S.— Organizers have postponed the annual Cambridge Taste food festival to tomorrow due to today's heat. The outdoor event, which includes tasty bites and drink samples from nearly 50 restaurants in Cambridge, will now run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at University Park near MIT.
