Boston has seen 24 days with temps 90 or above this year — and there’s still time for more

A cooling mist was made available for tourists on the Freedom Trail at the Charlestown Navy Yard near the USS Constitution and the Constitution Museum to help cool on Friday.David L. Ryan/Globe Staff

Yes, it’s been that hot. With the mercury edging up to 90 degrees Friday in Boston, the city has now seen 24 days with temperatures of 90 or above so far this year — and there could be more ahead, the National Weather Service says.

The 24 days was the sixth-highest number of days at 90 and above in Boston. The record for most days 90 and above was sizzling-hot 1983, when 30 days reached that mark. Records have been kept since 1872.

Friday was the fourth day of the year’s fourth heat wave. (New England heat waves are defined as at least three days of temperatures 90 degrees and above).

There could be more 90-degree days before the year is over, said National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Simpson.

Heat waves have happened in Boston as late as the fourth week of September, the forecasters noted in a tweet earlier this week.

[Climate Fun Fact!] For those of you who are curious, the latest heat wave at each climate site (3+ days of 90°F or higher) are as follows:

Boston: 9/21-9/23 (1895/1914)
Hartford: 9/21-9/23 (1914)
Worcester: 9/14-9/16 (1915)
Providence: 9/7-9/9 (2015)#mawx #riwx #ctwx

— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) August 25, 2021

Ninety-degree days are happening earlier and more often, the Globe reported in June.

Simpson said a “little bit of a cooler period” is ahead for the next couple of weeks, but there will still be some uncomfortable days with high humidity and temperatures in the upper 80s.

Saturday is expected to be much cooler, with a high temperature of only 74. But the high is expected to rise to 79 on Sunday and then return to the mid-80s Monday and Tuesday before another cooldown, forecasters said.