Heat Wave Causes Power Outages

The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings and/or heat advisories for the eastern United States, where heat index values will range from 105-115+ today. 

Temperatures  for most of northern Jersey and New York City are texpected to reach a high near 100 again today, which will mark the third consecutive day the mercury has hit triple digits in New Jersey.

Yesterday temperatures in Newark reached 108 by late afternoon, the highest temperature ever recorded in the city, according to published reports.

Last night Montclair and parts of Essex County were without power — and air conditioning — according to Erica Lembo, spokesperson for PSE&G.  Temperatures still hovered at a sweltering 100 degrees at 9:30 p.m. last night.

PSE&G reported a total of 15,000 heat-related outages throughout the county on Friday, including 8,000 residents in parts of Bloomfield, Glen Ridge and Montclair, Lembo said. The company's outage map shows between 5,000 and 10,000 without power in Newark.

Below is the weekend weather forecast for Newark. 

Saturday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11am. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Heat index values as high as 104. Calm wind becoming west between 6 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Saturday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 76. West wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. North wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming east. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.