The forecast projects one of the hottest weekends across Connecticut so far this year, with temperatures expected to rise into the triple digits.
With events in Hartford ranging from the Festival of Jazz to a Florida Georgia Line concert, Mayor Luke Bronin expects more than 50,000 people to be outside this weekend.
“We want everyone to enjoy all the city has to offer this weekend,” said mayor Bronin. “But we also want to make sure that everybody is taking precautions and being safe during what will be some pretty extreme heat."
In an attempt to help members of the community combat the heat, city officials are planning to hand out water bottles and keep water parks open to the public through the day.
“We as a city, we just want to make sure that everyone takes every precaution to make sure that they stay safe,” said Hartford fire chief Reginald Freeman. “That includes not going outside unless you absolutely have to, staying in air conditioned quarters, [and] drinking as much water as possible because it takes 48 to 72 hours to properly be hydrated.”
Chief Freeman says that firefighters are prepping for the weekend by limiting extracurricular physical activity and eating water based foods such as melons, berries, and greens.
Hartford police department also warns residents to keep their windows and doors closed as much as possible to avoid letting in hot air, and to move furniture away from open windows in homes with small children.
The incoming heat is a safety risk for everyone in Connecticut this weekend, but councilman James Sanchez reminds people to make an effort to check-in on elderly neighbors living without air conditioning units or fans, and also to keep pets indoors if possible.
“When it comes to the man’s best friends, cats, guinea pigs, and rabbits, don’t leave them out there in the yard in a cage under the sun,” said Sanchez. “If you are, put them under a tree where there is plenty of shade and a breeze.”
There will be a number of cooling stations open to the public over the weekend providing refuge for residents of the community who do not have access to air conditioning. Some of those locations are:
Hartford:
Hispanic Health Council, 175 Main St., is open through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Parkville Senior Center, 11 New Park Ave. is open through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Hispanic Senior Center, at 45 Wadsworth St., is open Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
South End Wellness Center, 830 Maple Ave., is open through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
North End Senior Center, at 80 Coventry St., is open through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
All Hartford Library Branches are open from 10-5 on Saturday
New Haven:
Atwater Senior Center, 26 Atwater St., is open for senior citizens Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dixwell / Newhallville Senior Center, 255 Goffe St., is open for senior citizens Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
East Shore Senior Center, 411 Townsend Ave., is open for senior citizens Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All branches of the New Haven Library are open Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm
All city park splash pads are open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. https://www.wnpr.org/post/heat-wave-expected-weekend-connecticut
New London:
Senior Citizen Center, 120 Broad St., is open through Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Bridgeport:
Greater Bridgeport Transit Bus Terminal (Daily)- 710 Water St, Bridgeport CT (7:00am-7:00pm)
All Bridgeport Public Library Branches are open from 10-5 on Saturday.