Praise the Lord, and pass the wet towels!!! Mammoth heat wave slogs on

BEATING THE HEAT AT HANSON PINES: Maya Lee, of Rochester, a fourth-year lifeguard at city pools, keeps a close eye on swimmers Thursday afternoon at the Hanson Pines Pool. (Rochester Voice photo)

Today, the third day of a five-day heat wave, will feel like 100 degrees due to high humidity, but rest assured. It'll get worse before it gets better.
Today's high temperature will be 95 followed by a high of 97 on Saturday and 98 on Sunday, when the heat index will feel like 103.
Meanwhile, all three days will feature a UV index of 9, putting residents unprotected from sun exposure at "very high" risk, meaning anyone who does venture outdoors for any length of time should apply sunscreen.
Cooling stations remain available today at Rochester City Hall and Rochester Public Library, however, city officials have not disclosed what may be open on Saturday and Sunday, expected to the two hottest days of the heat wave.
City pools are all open today at the following times:
Hanson Pines: 1:30-60 p.m.
East Rochester: 2:30-5 p.m.
Gonic: 3:45-6 p.m.
As of today the city website lists both East Rochester and Gonic pools as closed on Saturday, while the Hanson Pines will be open from Noon-6 p.m.
Sunday pool hours aren't yet available.
And while Sunday may be the last official day of the heat wave, you might not notice, since the high will be 89 through Wednesday. In fact, temps won't get to a comfortable high of 80 till Aug. 5.

The New Hampshire Department of Safety's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management urges residents and visitors to take action before a heat emergency.
"Take the necessary precautions to protect your family, friends, and neighbors from heat-related illness," said Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Jennifer Harper. "During extreme heat, limit your exposure to the sun and stay in air conditioned rooms for as long as possible."
Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year. Young children and infants, older adults, people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women are at highest risk for heat-related illness.
Harper offers the following safety tips:
• Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
• Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty.
• Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
• Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat.
• Go to a designated public shelter if your home loses power during periods of extreme heat. Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
• Sign up for NH Alerts to receive emergency information via your mobile and landline phones, including severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service and emergency information from HSEM.
• Check the weather and listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical updates from the National Weather Service.
If you must go outside:
• Avoid strenuous work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take frequent breaks.
• Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun's rays.
• Protect your face and head by wearing sunblock and a wide-brimmed hat.
• Limit exposure to the sun.
Residents and visitors can learn more at ReadyNH.gov