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Eastern Jackson County, MO —
After a slight break and two days without a heat alert, the high temperatures are coming back Tuesday, so the National Weather Service has posted a heat alert.
The alert is for noon Tuesday through 7 p.m. Saturday.
"This dangerous, prolonged heat spell will increase the risk for heat illness if proper precautions are not take," the Weather Service office in Pleasant Hill said in a statement posted late today.
No record temperatures appear likely to fall this week. The predicted highs are 100 Tuesday (the record is 103 in 1934), then 100 on the Fourth of July (108 in 1936), 99 Thursday (104 in 1934), 99 Friday (103 in 1954), 99 Saturday (105 in 1939) and 98 Sunday (101 in 1980).
Authorities advise drinking plenty of water, but not drinks with sugar, alcohol or caffiene. Generally stay indoors and in air conditioning. Fans are only good to a point, beyond which just blowing around all that hot, humid air can stress the body. If you go outside, find shade and have plenty of water. Cut down on strenuous outdoor activity, and do those tasks either before around 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (If you need to mow, it's OK. The metro "skycast" for Tuesday is green, meaning ozone levels are fairly low.) Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Make sure outdoor pets of shade and plenty of water.
Know the signs of heat exhaustion and the potentially deadly heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion happens when your bodily loses a lot of fluid, through perspiration. Symptoms are cool, moist, pale, ashen or flushed skin; headache; dizziness, nausea; weakness or exhaustion; and heavy sweating. Get out of the heat, rest in a cool, shady – or air conditioned – place, and drink small amounts of water. Loosen your clothing, and apply wet towels.
If unable to drink water, or if vomiting starts, call 911.
This can worsen into heat stoke, when the body loses its ability to regulate heat. It’s a medical emergency. Symptoms are red skin – dry or moist – changes in consciousness, a rapid and weak pulse, and rapid, shallow breathing. Call 911, and treat the same as with heat exhaustion. The Red Cross suggests four ounces of water – that’s half a cup – every 15 minutes.
After a slight break and two days without a heat alert, the high temperatures are coming back Tuesday, so the National Weather Service has posted a heat alert.
The alert is for noon Tuesday through 7 p.m. Saturday.
"This dangerous, prolonged heat spell will increase the risk for heat illness if proper precautions are not take," the Weather Service office in Pleasant Hill said in a statement posted late today.
No record temperatures appear likely to fall this week. The predicted highs are 100 Tuesday (the record is 103 in 1934), then 100 on the Fourth of July (108 in 1936), 99 Thursday (104 in 1934), 99 Friday (103 in 1954), 99 Saturday (105 in 1939) and 98 Sunday (101 in 1980).
Authorities advise drinking plenty of water, but not drinks with sugar, alcohol or caffiene. Generally stay indoors and in air conditioning. Fans are only good to a point, beyond which just blowing around all that hot, humid air can stress the body. If you go outside, find shade and have plenty of water. Cut down on strenuous outdoor activity, and do those tasks either before around 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (If you need to mow, it's OK. The metro "skycast" for Tuesday is green, meaning ozone levels are fairly low.) Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Make sure outdoor pets of shade and plenty of water.
Know the signs of heat exhaustion and the potentially deadly heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion happens when your bodily loses a lot of fluid, through perspiration. Symptoms are cool, moist, pale, ashen or flushed skin; headache; dizziness, nausea; weakness or exhaustion; and heavy sweating. Get out of the heat, rest in a cool, shady – or air conditioned – place, and drink small amounts of water. Loosen your clothing, and apply wet towels.
If unable to drink water, or if vomiting starts, call 911.
This can worsen into heat stoke, when the body loses its ability to regulate heat. It’s a medical emergency. Symptoms are red skin – dry or moist – changes in consciousness, a rapid and weak pulse, and rapid, shallow breathing. Call 911, and treat the same as with heat exhaustion. The Red Cross suggests four ounces of water – that’s half a cup – every 15 minutes.
