New Jersey Temperatures Goes From Winter To Summer

Temperatures will take a 50 degree leap in some areas as summer heat comes to New Jersey.

Today will begin what is expected to be the first heat wave of the summer with temperatures around 90 degrees in most areas through Sunday. Humidity will also increase over the next few days.

Shore areas will offer some relief with a wind off the ocean, which is in the chilly lower 60s, keeping things a bit cooler.

The chilly water temperatures  can also bring on muscle cramps very quickly which increases the risk of drowning.

A high pressure is positioned off the coast pumping the heat towards New Jersey and all of the east coast including New England where some areas received up to 7 inches of snow on Saturday.Temperatures on Saturday didn't get out the 50s in most of New Jersey to begin the Memorial Day Weekend.

Keeping Your Car Cool

Source: AAA Mid Atlantic

Heat Can Zap the Life from Batteries – Most drivers think battery problems occur primarily in winter, but summer heat can negatively impact your car’s battery even more than the bitter cold of winter. Heat and vibration are a battery’s two worst enemies leading to internal breakdown and eventual failure. While drivers cannot do much about the heat, they can make sure their battery is securely mounted in place to minimize vibration.

Keep Your Engine Cool – Automobile engines work extra hard in the summer, and it is the cooling system’s job to protect the engine from overheating. In addition, additives in the coolant protect the radiator and internal engine components against wear and corrosion. Without proper cooling system maintenance, the odds of long term engine damage, and a summer time boil over, definitely increase.

Maintain Proper Tire Pressure - Driving on under-inflated tires not only affects the handling and braking of a vehicle, it also can cause tires to overheat and increase the likelihood of a blowout. This problem becomes even more of a concern when road temperatures are extremely high. Tires should be checked when the car has not been driven recently, and they should be inflated to the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer—not the number molded into the tire sidewall. Recommended tire pressures can be found in the owner’s manual or on a sticker normally located on the driver’s door jamb. Some vehicles use different pressures for the front and rear tires.

Check Vehicle Fluids – Engine fluids are essential to keeping a vehicle running smoothly. Most fluids not only lubricate, they also serve as coolants by helping carry heat away from critical components. When fluid levels are low, this cooling effect is reduced, and the possibility of overheating increases. Drivers to should check all vehicle fluids including motor oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and brake fluid to ensure they are filled to the appropriate levels. If any fluids need to be topped off, be sure to use the type of fluid specified in the owner’s manual.

Child Safety Heat Tips

source: National Weather Service

Make sure your child’s safety seat and safety belt buckles aren’t too hot before securing your child in a safety restraint system, especially when your car has been parked in the heat.

Never leave your child unattended in a vehicle, even with the windows down.

Teach children not to play in, on, or around cars.

Always lock car doors and trunks–even at home–and keep keys out of children’s reach.

Always make sure all children have left the car when you reach your destination.

Adult Heat Wave Safety Tips

Slow down. Reduce, eliminate or reschedule strenuous activities until the coolest time of the day. Children, seniors and anyone with health problems should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors.

Dress for summer. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing to reflect heat and sunlight.

Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods, like meat and other proteins that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.

Drink plenty of water, non-alcoholic and decaffeinated fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty. Persons who have epilepsy or heart, kidney or liver disease, are on fluid restrictive diets or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids. Do not drink alcoholic beverages and limit caffeinated beverages.

During excessive heat periods, spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, go to a library, store or other location with air conditioning for part of the day.

Don’t get too much sun. Sunburn reduces your body’s ability to dissipate heat.

Do not take salt tablets unless specified by a physician.

The National Weather Service contributed to this story.