Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week!! Day 5, last day :(

SEVERE SUMMER WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK

May 2nd - May 6th.

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/news/display_cmsstory.php?wfo=fgf&storyid=51423&source=0

 

Day 5. Heat Wave!

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fgf/?n=severesummer2010_day5

"A period of abnormally and uncomfortably hot and humid weather." - Glossary of Meteorology

Heat Waves are a VERY Relative type of Severe Summer Weather, but they are extremely dangerous and are the most deadly in the United States. A heat wave is relative because different locations may think different temperatures are colder or warmer. It is dependent on where you live.

 

The National Weather Service uses something called the Heat Index to help figure out if there is a heat wave or not. The Heat Index is a combination of the air temperature and the humidity, and it tells us how hot it feels outside. It's like Wind Chill but the opposite temperature wise.

Heat Index Chart

"The National Weather Service will issue advisories or warnings when the heat index is expected to have a significant impact on public safety. The common guidelines for the issuance of excessive heat warnings is when the maximum daytime index is expected to reach 105 or 110, and the nighttime low temperature does not fall below 75 or 80 degrees." Again this is just a general guideline for the Midwest National Weather Services.

 

Safety Tips from the Weather Service:

"Here are some tips to follow to ensure that heat-related problems do not impact you...

• Slow down. Strenuous activities should be reduced, eliminated or rescheduled to the coolest time of the day. Individuals at risk should stay in the coolest available place, not necessarily indoors. Dress for summer. Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight and helps your body maintain normal temperatures.
• Put less fuel on your inner fires. Foods such as proteins that increase metabolic heat production also increase water loss.
• Drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic fluids. Your body needs water to keep cool. Drink plenty of fluids, even if you don't feel thirsty. However, those who suffer from epilepsy, heart, kidney or liver disease, are on fluid restrictive diets, or have a problem with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids.
• Do not drink alcoholic beverages.
• Spend more time in air-conditioned places. Air conditioning in homes and other buildings markedly reduces danger from the heat. If you cannot afford an air conditioner, spending time each day in an air-conditioned environment during hot weather affords some protection.
• Be careful not to get too much sun. Sunburn makes the job of heat dissipation that much more difficult."

 * Please go to the above link for more information on Heat Waves!

Today concludes Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week :-( ! Please Stay Safe out there this summer!