Friday, Jun. 29, 2012
The heat is on
NWS warns of excessive temperatures
By Russ Pulley
rpulley@lsjournal.com
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ReprintWith a summer sun blistering Cass County everyone needs to be wary of heat exhaustion.
The forecast for this week is for a heat wave in the high 90s to 100 degrees. On Tuesday the National Weather Service issued an excessive heat watch that’s to be in effect through Saturday.
With temperatures that high, people working or exercising outdoors are at risk. If the temperatures are prolonged, danger can extend indoors for homes without air conditioning.
Mike July, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service station in Pleasant Hill, said the agency issues heat advisories based on a temperature and humidity. Sweltering temperatures arrived along with Missouri Summer Safety Week, an awareness event promoted on the NWS website.
In 2011 in Missouri there were 47 heat wave related deaths, according to the site.
Most heat related deaths occur in cities where brick and mortar buildings, asphalt and roofs absorb heat during the day and slowly release it at night, so typically the problem is worse in urban than rural areas.
During summer people gradually acclimate to the higher temperatures, he said, but when relative humidity climbs to about 40 percent, with daily highs in high 80s and 90s, then conditions interfere with the body’s cooling system.
“Perspiration doesn’t evaporate fast enough to cool the body,” he said.
Also, people run a risk of dehydration because they are perspiring more than usual, so it is important to drink plenty of clear liquids.
The agency issues warnings when it expects extreme conditions for three hours in a row, or if the 24-hour temperature cycle stays above 75 degrees at night and there is high heat index during the day. Then people should exercise extra caution.
“Experience has shown when there are multiple days in a row, that’s when people start feeling effects because starts building up in them,” July said.
Advisories issued by the weather service reach the public by television, radio, newspapers and the weather service’s website: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/eax/.
Symptoms include cool, moist skin with goose bumps when in the heat, heavy sweating, faintness, dizziness, fatigue, weak rapid pulse, low blood pressure upon standing, muscle cramps, nausea and headache.
Medical authorities urge people who begin experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion to rest and find a place to cool down.
Most vulnerable are the elderly, children and infants, or people with chronic health problems, especially pre-existing heart problems. Also obese people or those who use alcohol or drugs (including antipsychotics, tranquilizers, anti-depressants, certain types of sleeping pills and drugs for Parkinson’s disease, are at great risk.
Sweltering temperatures arrived with Missouri Summer Safety Week, an awareness event promoted on the NWS website.
In 2011 in Missouri there were 47 heat wave related deaths, according to the site.
Most heat related deaths occur in cities where brick and mortar buildings, asphalt and roofs absorb heat during the day and slowly release it at night, so typically the problem is worse in urban than rural areas.
Summer is also a time of year prone to thunderstorms, which brings danger from lightning strikes. So the agency is promoting lightning safety as well.
According to the agency, lighting can strike as far as 10 miles away from where rain is occurring during a thunderstorm, so people outdoors during storms in their area should go inside.
