Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Journal photo / Bob Thayer
Chelsea Gibbons of Cumberland keeps a close eye on the dozens of swimmers cooling off at Olney Pond in Lincoln Woods, where she's a lifeguard.

Heat driving you to an Ocean State beach? As of today, all 128 monitored bathing beaches are now open for swimming.

In what can only be seen as good timing, the state Department of Health today recommended re-opening Barrington Town Beach and Warren Town Beach for swimming after samples were found to contain bacteria within acceptable limits.

For updates about swimming recommendations at the beaches, go to www.health.ri.gov or for recorded information call (401) 222-2751.

For information about area beaches, visit projo.com's beach map and guide.

For a check on high and low tides around the area -- especially given tonight's full moon-visit projo.com's daily tide chart.

To share your snapshots of summer fun, go to projo.com's interactive gallery of summer photos.

Stuck in a room with no air conditioning? See if our virtual fan can help at least make you feel virtually cool.

With more of the same boiler room-meets-locker room air quality expected outside tomorrow, Rhode Island Public Transit Authority bus and trolley rides will be free again.
That includes the beach bus express service.

The state Department of Environmental Management said it predicts unhealthy air in the mid- to late afternoon tomorrow, with "a very hot and humid air mass" persisting through the day. High ozone concentrations, a big part of smog, will spawn the mugginess.

Tomorrow will be mostly sunny, hazy in the morning, and humid with highs in the lower 90s. Southwest winds will be at 10 to 15 mph, with gusts up to 25 mph in the afternoon.

The DEM said Rhode Islanders can help cut air pollutant emissions by limiting car use and use of lawn motors and charcoal lighter fuels. Travel by bus or carpool whenever possible, the DEM suggested.

The state Department of Health said unhealthy ozone can cause throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, increased susceptibility to respiratory infection and aggravation of asthma and other respiratory ailments. Exercise and heavy activity worsen those problems in such weather.

Get the latest weather conditions, air quality reports, live radar and more, at: projo.com/weather

 Tags  beach closures hot humid Ocean State R.I. beaches swimming weather

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