In case you didn’t notice, it was hot yesterday.

But as a short trip with a digital thermometer in hand indicates, a heat wave doesn’t always punish everybody equally. Starting shortly after noon at the presumptive cool spot in the region, the ocean’s edge, our thermometer climbed 30 degrees as we headed inland to find a local hot spot – in this case, a farm in Mullica Township.

With ocean temperatures in the high 50s keeping Margate properly chilled, the air temperature on the beach below the high-tide line was a cool 73 degrees. At Butterhof’s Shady Brook Farm in Mullica Township, workers endured temperatures as hot as 103 degrees.

On the bulkhead dividing the Margate beach from Decatur Avenue, the temperature was 10 degrees higher than at the high-tide line.

At points in between, a construction crew in Pleasantville battled 93 degree heat, and at Atlantic City International Airport in Egg Harbor Township, it reached 99 degrees.

Karen Holjes, 47, of Somers Point, had the day off from her job at the Tuckahoe Inn in the Beesleys Point section of Upper Township. She decided to visit the Margate beach with co-worker Tim Warley and friend Debbie Vrba. The three friends have known each other for more than 20 years and frequent the Margate beach.

“It’s the best place to get away from the heat. But you have to jump in the water,” she said. And jump Holjes did – four times.

A resident of Mays Landing, Warley, 44, gauged the water temperature as “cold but refreshing.” He wasn’t as bold as Holjes and journeyed into the water only once.

Heading off the island, the word “cold” was left behind.

Lt. Rocky Melendez, of the Pleasantville Police Department, was directing traffic for the construction crew at West Jersey Avenue and Franklin Boulevard. He started at 7 a.m.

“It’s hot. I’m drinking lots of water, and I sneak into the AC in my car if I get a chance,” Melendez said, noting he was not sure when his day would be done. “When I get off work, I will not get out of the air conditioning.”

In Mullica Township, the work also continued despite the heat.

Owner of Butterhof’s Shady Brook Farm, Al Butterhof operated a tractor that was crimping rye wheat.

“If you really want to see hot, sit up on that tractor all day,” Butterhof said.

His farm also allows people to pick their own strawberries. He was surprised that even eight people came to pick today, some as late as 1:30 p.m.

The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties until 8 p.m today. The temperatures, combined with the humid air mass, means heat index values will be close to 105 degrees this afternoon, the advisory said.

People are encouraged to reduce strenuous activities, drink plenty of water and spend more time in air-conditioned places.

To e-mail Sam Fran Scavuzzo at The Press:

SScavuzzo@pressofac.com