OCEAN CITY--It's the first official day of summer and people were already looking to beat the heat during the first heat wave of the season. Large crowds headed to the beach in Ocean City looking for some much needed relief.

They came armed with chairs and umbrellas, ready to face the day while attempting to beat the heat. Id rather be here than home, said Dawn Benyola from Williamstown.

Terrible at home, said Stanley Hoff about the temperatures he left behind in Harleysville, Pennsylvania.

Looking to escape the heat, they came in droves and showed up early to claim their piece of sand. We got here at 10 and there was hardly anybody here, said Benyola, looking around, then all of a sudden, everybody started coming in. It got crowded real fast, but I can't blame 'em.

Many found the relief they were looking for in and around the ocean. The water's great, 74 degrees, said Hoff, fresh out of the water, body surfings great.

Lifeguards kept a watchful eye over the dozens of swimmers who frolicked in the refreshing surf, but those on the beach will tell you just being by the water provided a nice break from the heat. It's definitely cooler cause of the breeze, said Ashlyn Hewitt, visiting from North Carolina.

But even with the nice sea breeze, everyone was being sure to stay hydrated during this oppressive heat, because hey- they've got a lot planned for this sunny beach day. We're going in the water, yeah - playing, playing in the sand, finding seashells, said Lizzie Wolf and her cousin Samantha Hewitt, excited for a day at the beach.

I might just go in the water, play, make sandcastles, said Danielle Benyola excited to spend the day by the shore

While Wednesday was hot. Thursday should be even hotter- but the good news is the heat wave should end late Friday, when we're expected to see a drop in both the heat and humidity, something many are already anxiously anticipating.

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Beaches packed with people looking to beat the heat