You don’t need us to tell you how oppressive the weather is going to be deep into the holiday weekend – TV news stations have been hyping the heatwave nonstop since Sunday.
Nonetheless, a quick review: Thursday and Friday are expected to be the worst days of this sweltering stretch, with temperatures in Plymouth reaching the high 90s. Combined with staggeringly high humidity levels, weather conditions could be life-threatening, especially for older residents and those with health conditions.
Saturday – July Fourth – might be two or three degrees less awful, so expect the parade to start warm and end with profuse sweating by spectators and participants.
The National Weather Service has issued a rare “extreme heat warning” for the Plymouth area. It took effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday and doesn’t expire until 8 p.m. on Saturday, just in time for the town’s fireworks display.
If you’re seeking to cool off with a dip in one of Plymouth’s many ponds, there are four to avoid because of cyanobacteria. The growth, also known as blue-green algae, has been observed in Great South Pond, Clear Pond, Billington Sea, and Great Herring Pond. The Plymouth Public Health Division has issued advisories for all four bodies of water. They won’t be lifted until the water is clear of cyanobacteria in at least two weeks.
“Dogs and small children should not be permitted to swim in Great Herring Pond until the advisory is officially lifted since they often ingest large amounts of water while in the pond,” said Don Williams, president of the Herring Ponds Watershed Association, in an email to association members. “In addition, adults should not ingest any pond water during the advisory and, as a caution against a possible rash reaction, should shower soon after leaving the water.”
The town does not normally test for cyanobacteria because it’s always present to some extent. Instead, it relies on visual observations to determine if ponds are safe for swimming, according to a posting on the town’s website. A cyanobacteria blooms looks like a bright green film.
The bacteria can irritate the skin and cause stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle and joint pain, mouth blisters, and even liver damage. Swimmers may suffer allergic reactions, such as asthma, eye irritation, rashes, and blisters around the mouth and nose.
Such blooms can be caused by heat, but also by septic systems, heavy rains, and high concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen.
The town has also released a heat advisory covering the same period as the weather service’s warning. In addition to common sense advice that includes staying hydrated, limiting daytime outdoor activities and taking precautions for pets, the advisory lists the following locations and times for cooling centers:
Plymouth Center for Active Living, 44 Nook Road
Wed, July 1: 8:00AM – 4:00PM
Thurs, July 2: 8:00AM – 4:00PM
Fri, July 3: 10:00AM – 2:00PM
Sat, July 4: CLOSED
Plymouth Library – Main branch, 132 South St.
Wed, July 1: 9:00AM – 9:00PM
Thurs, July 2: 9:00AM – 6:00PM
Fri, July 3: CLOSED
Sat, July 4: 10:00AM – 3:00PM
Plymouth Library – Manomet Branch
12 Strand Ave.
Wed, July 1: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Thurs, July 2: 9:00AM – 9:00PM
Fri, July 3: CLOSED
Sat, July 4: CLOSED
Salvation Army Community Center, 52 Long Pond Road
Wed, July 1: 9:00AM – 3:00PM
Thurs, July 2: 9:00AM – 3:00PM
Fri, July 3: 9:00AM – 2:00PM
Sat, July 4: CLOSED
Cedarville Fire Station Community Room, 2209 State Road
Sat, July 4: 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Fred Thys of the Independent staff contributed to this report. Mark Pothier can be reached at mark@plymouthindependent.org.