Cooling Center Opens In Princeton Amid NJ Heat Wave

PRINCETON, NJ — With the heat index expected to cross 100 degrees in the next few days, Princeton has opened up the Community Room at 400 Witherspoon Street as a cooling center.

Residents can stop by and cool off Wednesday through Friday, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Masks are required and will be available if residents don't have one.

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for most of the state that is in effect through Thursday night.

Forecasters are predicting "dangerously hot conditions," with heat index values around 105 on Wednesday and 110 on Thursday. Maximum temperatures will occur between noon and 8 p.m. each afternoon.

In addition to the stifling heat, a slight chance of late-day thunderstorms is possible each day this week, with a higher chance on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Here's the weather forecast for the next few days:

Wednesday: High of 91 degrees. Heat index values as high as 103. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.A Chance of showers and thunderstorms, with some storms being severe, with large hail and damaging winds. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values 106. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday: Showers likely, thunderstorm possible, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email [email protected]

Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.