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Extreme Heat
Extreme Heat
Many would say, "Oh it's summer. It's supposed to be hot." Well, yes, but the body cannot handle extreme heat as well; especially when it's the first heat wave of the summer and people are not adapted to the extreme heat yet. In fact, extreme heat is the #1 weather-related killer ahead of floods and hurricanes and much like extreme cold, can be deadly if the necessary precautions aren't taken.
*Disclaimer: Heat Advisory is the lowest level of alerts as it can cause disruptions to daily life or uncomfortable heat, which can still be deadly if precautions aren't taken, while Extreme Heat Watch and Warning alerts warn of dangerous, life-threatening heat. When these alerts are issued, it is sensitive to the location and thresholds from each National Weather Service office.
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Watch
Extreme Heat Warning
Extreme Heat Warning
Heat Index
Heat Index
Heat Index is a measure of how hot it feels outside with the added relative humidity. While it is a good index to see the relative feels like temperature outside, it only takes into account what it feels like if you are in the shade and does not factor in when you are in direct sunlight.
Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature
Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature
Conversely, Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is used for active, sun-exposed, or athletic conditions. As a result, this index corporates temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle, and cloud cover. It gives a risk category of one through five shown above.
Associated Heat Risks
Associated Heat Risks
The three associated heat risks are as follows:
Heat Cramps: Early heat illness caused by loss of salt and fluids during heavy sweating. Symptoms: Painful muscle spasms (often legs/arms/abdomen), heavy sweating, and fatigue.
Heat Exhaustion: Body is overheating due to dehydration and salt loss; cooling mechanisms still working.
Heat Stroke: Complete failure of the body's temperature regulation.
Describes and illustrates how heat domes form and create heat waves.
During a Heat Wave
During a Heat Wave
SLOW DOWN. Limit any outdoor physical activity, reschedule, or resume physical activity in the morning or evening during non-peak heating hours. Children or seniors with any health concerns should stay at the coolest available place.
DRESS ACCORDINGLY. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. Remember, the brighter the surface, the more the sun reflects the energy.
EAT LIGHT. Choose to eat easy-to-digest foods such as fruits or salads to avoid having your body use more energy and therefore produce more heat. Use an ice pack to keep spoiled foods cold.
DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS. Drink plenty of water or electrolytes to prevent any dehydration. Avoid alcohol and cafinated beverages.
AIR CONDITIONING. If your AC is out, spend time at grocery stores, libraries, malls, etc. to cool yourself down.
PORTABLE FANS. Fans will exhaust hot air from rooms or draw in cooler air. However, don't direct the flow directly at you if the room is hotter than 90 F as that will dehydrate you faster.
MINIMIZE DIRECT SUNLIGHT. Sunburn will reduce efficiency for your body to get rid of heat. If sunburnt, take a cool shower or bath and rub some aloe on multiple times a day.
BE AWARE OF THE MORE VULNERABLE. More vulnerable populations include newborns, elderly, disabled adults, outdoor workers, and those taking medications to reduce body temperature regulation. NEVER leave children or pets in a hot car. Look before you lock!
MORE HEALTH TIPS. Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov.
The National Weather Service has created a general HeatRisk interactive map to take into account abnormal temperatures for your location, forecast-driven humidity, time of year, duration of the event, and heat related illnesses.
Fire Weather
Fire Weather
Fire weather season typically ranges from late February to early May as the primary season in the spring. This is driven by warming temperatures, high winds, and dry vegetation. A secondary season (fall) can occur from mid-September to mid-December, characterized by dry conditions, and in some locations, cured, dry fuels. In the Western United States, it typically runs from late spring through early winter, with peak risks in the summer and the fall. Key factors that can cause the spread of wildfires are:
Low humidity
High Winds
Low precipitation (Dry Thunderstorms)
Drought conditions
Click the button below to track wildfires across the United States.
Fire Weather Watch
Fire Weather Watch
Red Flag Warning
Red Flag Warning
Drought
Drought
One cause of the spread of wildfires are droughts, which can be prolonged duration of dry spells without precipitation that can cause economical, hydrological, ecological, and agricultural impacts. While drought is most common in the summer months, it can exist all year round. The Drought Monitor is a tool that combines factors like temperature, moisture content, soil moisture, land cover, etc. to determine drought conditions for the whole United States. The map is normally updated every Thursday.
HEALTH IMPACTS. This includes problems with coughing, wheezing, reduced lung function, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and strokes. It is also linked to death for people who have heart or lung disease.
MOST VULNERABLE. These include people with heart disease, lung disease, including asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), older adults, children and teenagers since their lungs are still developing, pregnant women, minority populations, and outdoor workers.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. Choose less intense activity, shorten outdoor activities, reschedule activities, and exercise away from busy roads.
CHECK AIR QUALITY INDEX. Before going outside, check your local air quality index. (Click button below).
Air Quality
Air Quality
One cause of wildfires are the smoke that enters the atmosphere and usually the United States has to deal with in the summer when Canadian wildfire smoke blows southward under an area of high-pressure that builds over the Midwest. This reduces air quality and if you combine this under a heat dome, which suppresses pollutants at the surface, the air quality index (AQI) can significantly increase and cause various health concerns. The AQI is based on particle pollution, which come from many sources like power plants, industrial processes, vehicle tailpipes, woodstoves, and wildfires. These are sources of fine particles (2.5 micrometers in diamater or smaller). Coarse particles (between 2.5 and 10 micrometers) come from crushing and grinding operations, road dust, and some agricultural operations (EPA). For example, ozone is good in the stratosphere because it limits the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth's surface and protects us from harmful UV rays. However, ozone at the surface is bad and is a main health concern. Others of concern carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide, which are just as bad as ozone when levels are high.
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