NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Outdoor dining is a summertime favorite, but with the extreme heat gripping Western Mass., local restaurants need to work hard to keep customers safe.

Northampton has a large variety of outdoor dining options. Even with temperatures hitting triple digits, some restaurants say customers still want to dine outside.

“Tuesday almost guaranteed to have people sitting outside until the wee hours,” said Northampton Brewery Manager Chris McCarthy.

When the heat and humidity spike, local establishments have to work extra hard to keep people comfortable before it becomes a safety issue.

McCarthy said his team is working consistently to make sure staff and patrons stay safe and comfortable in the extreme heat.

“We do have some small fans specially for our servers and bartenders and we have some larger fans up there for guests,” he said.

Staff say they’ll scale back patio service if it’s too hot.

McCarthy also says the brewery is offering plenty of hydrating drinks and making sure staff take regular breaks to avoid heat-related illnesses.

The heat is tough on kitchen crews, too. McCarthy says they recently added air conditioning back there so his cooks can keep cool.

“We just put air conditioning into the kitchen because before that it was pretty miserable on those 90 degree days,” he said.

The Northampton Police Station lobby at 29 Center Street will be open as a 24/7 cooling center throughout the heat stretch, including the holiday weekend if you need somewhere to go.

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