Heat — Middlesex, New Jersey

1999-07-16 to 1999-07-19 · Middlesex, New Jersey

Wider weather episode

Another strong and oppressive ridge of high pressure gave New Jersey four days of oppressive heat and humidity and five straight days with high temperatures in the 90s. There were two heat related deaths, one in Middlesex County and one in Essex County. Unlike the previous hot spell, onshore winds prevented most shore areas from ever reaching 90 degrees. High temperatures reached the 90s again on the 15th. The air mass though was still relatively dry. Southwest winds continued to increase humidity levels. The combination of the temperature and humidity produced heat indices of around 100 degrees during the afternoon of the 16th and around 105 degrees during each afternoon from the 17th through the 19th. The hottest part of this air mass passed over northern parts of the Middle Atlantic States. Thus equally oppressive conditions occurred inland throughout the state. A weak backdoor cold front moved south through the region during the evening of the 19th. While the air mass was not considerably drier on the 20th, skies were cloudy as the front stalled near the area. Drier air slowly worked its way south during the afternoon and evening of the 20th. As a high pressure system built into New England on the 21st, dry air briefly covered the whole area. A 79-year-old Middlesex County man died from the heat on July 19th. The excessive heat and the lack of rain continued to decimate non-irrigated farms across the state. The high temperatures again put a strain on electrical utilities. For the second time this month, on Monday, July 19th the PJM Interconnection Association called for a 5 percent reduction in voltage from 115 p.m. EDT through 210 p.m. EDT. The highest temperatures during this hot spell were scattered from the 17th through the 19th. They included 102 degrees in Wertsville (Hunterdon County) and New Lisbon (Burlington County), 101 degrees in Pennsauken (Camden County), 100 degrees in Freehold (Monmouth County), Mount Holly (Burlington County), Somerville (Somerset County) and White House Station (Hunterdon County), 99 degrees in New Brunswick (Middlesex County), 98 degrees in Boonton (Morris County), Somerdale (Camden County) and Trenton (Mercer County), 97 degrees in Belvidere (Warren County), 96 degrees in Cherry Hill (Camden County), Estell Manor (Atlantic County), Seabrook (Cumberland County) and the Atlantic City International Airport in Pomona and 90 degrees in Wildwood (Cape May County). Due to higher historical daily maximum temperature records, fewer daily high temperature records were set.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5715498. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.