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Boston Hits 99 Degrees, Breaks 31-Year-Old Temperature Record

BOSTON (CBS) - The sixth day of a heat wave in Boston finally brought a record.

The National Weather Service says the temperature hit 99 degrees at Logan Airport at 1:19 p.m. Friday, breaking the previous record of 98 set back in 1982.

Read: Heat Guide

"There have been about a couple dozen record highs at 100 degrees or a bit higher over the past 140 years in Boston. The most recent was just two years ago on July 22 when it soared to 103 degrees," Burbank wrote in his daily Beyond the Forecast blog.

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Late in the day Saturday, a cold front will bring a merciful end to this third heat wave of the summer.

By Sunday and Monday temperatures are forecast to be back to near or slightly below normal.

BEATING THE HEAT

You didn't need the Yankees in town to heat things up over Fenway Park Friday.

The scorching sun had the faithful scrambling for water.

"It's hot in the shade, even over 90 up until 9:00 p.m.," said Eric Bonner.

Water was a brisk business as crowds headed into the sweltering park that set up cooling stations unless Mother Nature decided to help.

"Got a nice breeze right now, so we're happy," said one Red Sox fan.

The city's sprinklers were the next big attraction for cooling down, along with pools staying open until dusk. The city estimates some four thousand people sought relief in the water and at designated areas set up as cooling centers.

"It was raining so much we were welcoming the warmth, now be careful what you wish for," said Nora Hanna who came to Mirabella pool in Boston's North End with no air conditioning in her apartment. "It's New England, wait five minutes and it will change," she said. By 7:00 p.m. poolside the temperature was still reading 90 degrees.

At Pagliuca's restaurant in Boston they were feeling the heat in the kitchen hustling to meet the orders for crowds lining up outside and hovering over sweltering burners. "It's 100 degrees easily in here," said owner Joe Pagliuca, "but we're used to it."

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