Heat at critically dangerous levels this week!

Today - Monday - Mecklenburg County will be under a Heat Advisory lasting for 24 hours, from 10:00 o'clock this morning until 10:00 o'clock Tuesday morning. At that time tomorrow morning an Extreme Heat Watch will take over, lasting through 8:00 p.m. Wednesday. This is all in response to much above average temperatures (mid- to upper 90s) plus very sticky dew points (>70º). 

As mentioned in Sunday's blogpost heat is the #1 factor in weather-related deaths. Very hot temperatures are hard enough on us, but when high humidity is added into the mix it becomes difficult for the body to cool down. Sweating is our body's mechanism for cooling, and that process is inhibited in very moist air. The heat index is an attempt to describe the effects of combining temperatures and dew points. That index will soar to near or above 110º today and Tuesday!

Local air temperatures this afternoon will top out very near 100º, not dropping below the 90 degree mark until sunset at 8:37 p.m. Those thermometer readings will only drop to the mid-70s tonight. Then, Tuesday afternoon it's very likely that a number of Mecklenburg County locales will see triple digit temperatures along with that very sticky humidity. 

This graphic provides an indication of the dangers of these heat and humidity levels:

Most of this week Mecklenburg County will be at either level 3 or level 4 on this chart. The only saving grace will be chances at scattered showers and storms during the afternoon and evening hours. Precipitation will cool temperatures a bit, but it won't alleviate the high humidity.

So practice heat safety this week: taking frequent breaks, seeking cooler locations, and drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated. And keep an eye on the old and very young folks as well.