National Night Out will be the cool place to be, even with the heat

Harrison Thorp 8 a.m.


National Night Out will be the cool place to be, even with the heat

Kids enjoy an inside tour of a Rochester Police tactical vehicle during last year's National Night Out celebration. (Rochester Voice file photo)

ROCHESTER - One of the attractions for tonight's National Night Out at the Rochester Common is a dunk tank, which is very appropriate since many in the projected crowd of more than a thousand may be looking forward to a refreshing dip when the event starts around 5:30.

A heat advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. today, which could be the hottest day of the summer thus far.

National Night Out is a annual nationwide celebration of police-community partnerships. Tonight's festivities will include tours of various police and fire apparatus, including the SWAT van, a Marine Patrol boat and fire trucks.

There will also be plenty of free food and lots of prizes from community organizations.

A free outdoor movie "Over the Hedge" will start at dark. Eventgoers are encouraged to bring blankets and stay for the show.

Today's scorching heat could be the most intense of the summer thus far with heat index readings of around 104 by 1 p.m. dropping to the mid-90s by 5 when National Night Out gets started. A 50-50 chance for a thunderstorm could cool things off by 6 p.m., with temps in the low 80s projected by the time the movie gets going.

Rochester Fire said today that residents needing to cool off during the day should head to the Rochester Public Library for some temporary relief.

City Hall is also an option, according to safety officials.