Worst Heat in 15 Years Hits Central Jersey This Week, Just in Time for July 4th Crowds
An Extreme Heat Watch covers Rahway, Edison, and Woodbridge from Wednesday through Saturday, just as July 4th crowds head outdoors. Cooling centers, health risks, and safety tips.
A Bomb Pop melting on a hot sidewalk. (Credit: Lorie Shaull)
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Chris Howell | June 30, 2026 ***Updated: 9:30 PM***
Meteorologists are calling it the most dangerous heat wave Central Jersey has seen in roughly 15 years. It arrives on Wednesday and lasts through Saturday, putting holiday crowds at risk just as families head outdoors for July 4th weekend events.
The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for Middlesex and Union counties. Heat index values, which measure what the air actually feels like once humidity is added in, could reach 110 degrees in Middlesex County and 109 degrees in Union County. Air temperatures themselves should climb into the mid-90s, with some areas nearing 100. Multiple daily heat records for July 2 and July 3 could fall.
With fireworks shows, parades, and other Independence Day events drawing large crowds across Rahway, Edison, and Woodbridge this week, officials are urging residents to plan around the heat rather than push through it.
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The watch runs from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday evening. Nights will not bring much relief. Lows are expected to stay in the mid-70s to low 80s, according to the National Weather Service, which means homes and bodies will not fully cool down before the next day’s heat builds on top of it. Forecasters say that the lack of overnight recovery is one of the most dangerous parts of this stretch.
The watch could be upgraded to a Warning, a more serious alert, as early as Wednesday, forecasters say.
Older adults, infants, young children, and people with chronic health conditions face the greatest danger during extreme heat, according to the National Weather Service and the New Jersey Department of Health. Outdoor workers and anyone without reliable air conditioning are also at higher risk.
Heat-related illness can progress fast. According to National Weather Service guidance, warning signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, weakness, cold or clammy skin, a fast and weak pulse, nausea, and fainting. Heat stroke is more serious and can be deadly. Signs include a body temperature above 103 degrees; hot, dry skin; a fast, strong pulse; confusion; and loss of consciousness. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Move the person to a cool place right away and call 911.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends taking frequent breaks in the shade or in air conditioning for anyone working outside this week.
The National Weather Service’s Mount Holly office issued an Extreme Heat Watch for the entire region, including Middlesex and Union counties, on June 29, 2026. (NWS)
The National Weather Service recommends staying indoors in air conditioning when possible. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to a library, mall, or cooling center instead. Drink plenty of water, avoid the sun, and limit hard outdoor activity during the hottest part of the afternoon.
Checking on elderly neighbors, relatives, or anyone living alone without reliable cooling is also recommended. A phone call or a visit works better than a text message, since it lets you actually confirm someone is safe.
Never leave a child or pet alone in a parked car, even for a few minutes. Car interiors can reach deadly temperatures fast, even with the windows cracked.
Rahway’s Office of Emergency Management has announced that the Rahway Recreation Center, 275 East Milton Ave., will serve as a cooling center Wednesday through Friday. The center will be closed for the July 4th holiday weekend. For details, call 732-669-3600.
Woodbridge Township has activated 13 cooling center locations across the municipality through the holiday weekend. Mayor John McCormac urged residents to check on neighbors and seniors during the stretch. “If you know someone who may be at risk for heat stress, take a few minutes to check on them periodically throughout the day and night. You may be saving a life,” McCormac said in a statement.
The following Woodbridge facilities are open during their regular hours of operation. Call ahead to confirm times:
- Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main St., Woodbridge: 732-596-4170
- Evergreen Senior Center, 400 Inman Ave., Colonia: 732-726-6261
- Sycamore Senior Center, 290 Old Road, Port Reading: 732-726-6272
- Five Branches Senior Center, 1 Brown Ave., Iselin: 732-726-6276
- Maple Tree Senior Center, 109 Morrisey Ave., Avenel: 732-259-0910
- Oak Tree Senior Center, 571 Lincoln Highway, Iselin: 732-259-2008
- Hickory Senior Center, 17 Corrielle St., Fords: 732-726-6285
- Woodbridge Main Library, 1 George Frederick Plaza: 732-634-4450
- Fords Branch Library, 211 Ford Ave.: 732-726-7071
- Henry Inman Branch Library, 607 Inman Ave., Colonia: 732-726-7072
- Iselin Branch Library, 1081 Green St., Iselin: 732-726-7073
- Woodbridge Health Center, 2 George Frederick Plaza: 732-855-5036
- Woodbridge Town Hall, 1 Main St.: 732-634-4500
Edison has opened cooling centers at three locations this week: the Minnie B. Veal Community Center, 1070 Grove Ave. (732-248-7310); the Edison Main Library, 340 Plainfield Ave. (732-287-2298); and the Clara Barton Branch Library, 141 Hoover Ave. (732-738-0096).
New Brunswick activates a Code Red whenever temperatures pass 90 degrees, a threshold that will be exceeded daily this week. The cooling center opens at the Emanuel Lutheran Church auxiliary building, 6 Kirkpatrick St., noon to 7 p.m. No residency or ID is required.
Linden has announced through a Nixle alert that cooling centers are open this week, though the alert did not list specific addresses.
Residents in all four communities should watch for updates from local emergency alert systems this week, since cooling center hours can change quickly as the heat continues. Rahway residents can sign up for Nixle alerts by texting 07065 to 888777. Edison and Woodbridge residents can find sign-up instructions on their township websites.
NJ 211 maintains a statewide list of open cooling centers that updates as towns report their hours. Residents can also call 211 directly for help finding a cool place to go.
Editor’s note: The Central Jerseyan is free to read and supported by advertising. If you value this kind of local reporting and want to help sustain it, you can become a citizen supporter on Patreon. Your contribution helps fund continued coverage of local government, schools, and community issues.