Princeton Copes as Temperatures Climb

Ellen Gilbert

“In a nutshell, this is a once or twice per decade heat wave,” said New Jersey State Climatologist David A. Robinson. “Temperatures have reached 100 degrees at some locations, and have been well into the 90s at most other locations around New Jersey since Sunday.” The heat is expected to continue at least through Thursday, though Tuesday was expected to be the hottest day of all.

“We’re inviting any seniors who want to to come in during the day to get out of the heat whether they’re enrolled in classes or not,” said Princeton Senior Resource Center (PSRC) Director Susan Hoskins. This invitation extends as long as the warm weather lasts, she noted. PSRC is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and although the Suzanne Patterson Building will be closed for renovations from July 19 through August 31, programming — and the open invitation — will continue at the center’s Spruce Circle facility.

Ms. Hoskins also reported that PSRC social workers are busy “calling clients to make sure that they’re okay and have ways of staying cool.” Anyone concerned about the well-being of an elderly relative or neighbor may contact PSRC at (609) 924-7108 or write to info@princetonsenior.org. The Spruce Circle phone number is (609) 252-2362. Details, along with a “heat alert bulletin,” are available in Mature Princeton, the PSRC monthly newsletter, which can be viewed at www.princetonsenior.org/polnewsletters.cfm.

With AccuWeather.com reporting Princeton temperatures at 99 degrees with a “RealFeel” of 102 on Tuesday afternoon, the Recreation Department cancelled that evening’s girl’s summer basketball clinic and men’s lacrosse program. Program Supervisor Ben Stentz said that they’re “taking it a day at a time,” and opting to “be safe rather than sorry.” Camps, he noted, are “on schedule,” with “extended pool time” and “more passive activities” planned for the day camp. An indoor activity had already been planned for the travel camp on Tuesday.

“We’ll evaluate it day by day,” said Mr. Stentz. Up-to-date information can be obtained by calling the Rec Department’s hotline number, (609) 688-2054, or by visiting www.princetontwp.org/recreationmain.html. “People really rely on the camps, Mr. Stentz added. “We’re going to have those regardless.”

A representative of the Princeton HealthCare System reported that the hospital was not seeing any increase in emergency room cases due to the heat.

While the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, Mr. Robinson said that he was “not aware of any power issues at the moment, but would watch out for them.” And while “we have become very dry, there are no state advisories at this time regarding water use. American Water has had demand issues in Ocean and Monmouth counties, but their supply is not at a critically low level.”

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