LIVE: Summertime heat means paying attention to your body's warning signals
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A ridge of high pressure in the upper atmosphere will be over Texas throughout the middle of the week. This brief arrival of an upper-level high over Texas means that we will be much hotter than normal, not warmer, but hotter.
Temperatures will likely be in triple digits for several locations on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Wednesday will be the area’s hottest as the high will be directly over the state.
While summertime heat is no stranger to May, it may be for people who are new to Central Texas. After all, the numbers do show that we get people moving in daily. Some of them come from different parts of the country where the heat we get here doesn’t happen there.
It is particularly during the hot days that you need to pay attention to the body’s warning signs. Ahead of that, though, is the need to understand the terminology between the two different types of heat alerts.
First, there is a Heat Advisory. A Heat Advisory is issued by the local National Weather Service with the air temperatures are forecast to reach 103° and the heat index rises to 108°. The heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the body by combining the air temperature with the relative humidity.
The other term is the Excessive Heat Warning. This is issued by the National Weather Service when the air temperature is predicted to reach 105 with a heat index of at least 113°. Most times, we will see the heat index reach 113° or higher in our eastern counties, especially Fayette and Lee Counties. Their locations closer to the coast mean higher humidity than the numbers seen in Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties westward.
It is during these hot times that people need to understand the importance of paying close attention to what their bodies are telling them. The First Warning Weather Team is committed to reminding our viewers of things they can do to withstand the heat. We know some people have outdoor jobs.
What are some of those recommendations?
- Drink plenty of water. There is no end to the importance of staying hydrated with water. It’s your best friend.
- Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Darker-colored clothes reflect the heat more than light-colored clothing.
- Wear a wide-brimmed hat. This not only covers the top of your head but also does a good job of covering your face.
- Apply sunscreen liberally. You want maximum protection from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. You want to keep your skin healthy and at the same time prevent the development of skin cancer.
- Check on the elderly to make sure they are in a cool environment. Too often, some shut-ins are reluctant to turn down their air conditioning or use their fans.
- If it’s hot enough for you, it’s hot enough for your pets. Put your hand on the ground to get an idea of how the pavement is. The recommendation is not to walk your four-footed fur baby during the heat of the day. Best before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m.
- Do not forget to check the back seat if your baby or small children are buckled in. Put something back there to remind you to check the back seat before you venture away from your vehicle.
Then, there is the importance of knowing the difference between Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke. It is so critical that people know the difference between the two. The chart below offers you a clear-cut definition of what separates one from the other.
This early arrival of triple-digit highs may be a temporary increase in temperatures this month. But you know that this area’s three hottest months are just a few weeks away with the start of Meteorological Summer:
- June with an average high temperature of 93.2° (3rd hottest)
- July with an average high temperature of 96.6° (2nd hottest)
- August with an average high temperature of 97.8° (hottest)
We always stress the importance of staying weather-aware during times of severe weather. It’s just as important to always know the weather conditions in times of extreme heat.
