The Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) is urging all state residents to take immediate precautions as dangerous heat and humidity are expected Thursday through Saturday, with temperatures and heat index values potentially reaching record levels on Friday and creating conditions that can quickly become life-threatening.
CT DPH identifies older adults 65 and older, pregnant women, infants and young children, individuals with chronic conditions including heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illness, and kidney disease, and outdoor and manual labor workers as the populations facing the highest health risks. The agency is asking residents, employers, and community organizations to actively look out for one another during the weather event.
"Extreme heat is one of the deadliest weather events we face as a state, and its danger is often underestimated," said Commissioner Manisha Juthani, M.D. "We are asking every Connecticut resident to take this seriously. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and check on your neighbors, especially those who are older individuals, live alone, or do not have access to air conditioning. A simple knock on the door or a phone call could save someone's life."
CT DPH advises residents to spend as much time as possible in air-conditioned spaces, drink water consistently throughout the day even without feeling thirsty, and avoid strenuous outdoor activity during peak heat hours between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Residents are cautioned never to leave children, older adults, or pets in a parked vehicle, even briefly, as car interiors can reach deadly temperatures within minutes.
Residents without air conditioning are encouraged to visit cooling centers available at libraries, community centers, senior centers, and municipal buildings across the state. To find a nearby location, residents can contact their local municipality or call 211, Connecticut's free health and human services helpline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
CT DPH urges all residents to know the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, cold or pale skin, nausea, dizziness, and muscle cramps; those affected should be moved to a cool location and given water. Heat stroke is a medical emergency, identified by a body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit, hot and red skin, and possible loss of consciousness. Anyone showing signs of heat stroke should receive an immediate emergency response by calling 911.
The CT DPH advisory reflects a worsening national trend. Extreme heat is the deadliest weather-related hazard in the United States, killing more Americans in most years than floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes combined. Heat-related deaths nationally rose from 1,156 in 2020 to 2,415 in 2023, and experts caution the official toll is likely undercounted because heat is not always recorded as a contributing factor in a death. The frequency of extreme heat events has grown sharply over recent decades, with the average number of heat waves in major U.S. cities rising from two per year in the 1960s to ten per year between 2010 and 2020, and the heat wave season extending by 46 days over the same period. Adults 65 and older, a population CT DPH specifically identifies as high-risk, are four times more likely to die from extreme temperatures than younger adults, according to a November 2025 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
