A heat wave in Europe has broken June temperature records and is being blamed for dozens of deaths. Soaring temps are expected to hit the eastern US this week, and you’ll need to be vigilant on protecting yourself and your family from the heat.
National Weather Service forecasters expect a long-lasting heat wave in the central to eastern US that will likely to last into the July 4 holiday weekend. Meteorologists are predicting temperatures in the 90s and low 100s Fahrenheit along with high humidity. That means heat indices near or above 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
That means there will be no relief even at hours when the sun isn’t at its strongest. “Overnight lows will also be quite warm,” NWS forecasters wrote, “with some record high minimums possible, bringing little to no relief from the heat in the nighttime hours.” Those nighttime temps can be just as dangerous as the triple-digit highs.
If you have underlying health conditions, the heat can worsen them if you aren’t careful.
Heat waves are getting worse due to climate change caused largely by the burning of fossil fuels. An analysis by European climate scientists on this week’s heat wave found a similar event in 1976 would’ve been about 3.5 degrees Celsius cooler, and one in 2003 about 2 degrees cooler. “This summer shows that at 1.4°C of global warming, extreme heat is already reaching the limits of our societies’ ability to cope,” the scientists wrote.
As temperatures rise this week, it’s crucial to stay safe and alert of all weather advisories. This may mean staying in and changing your plans or taking extra precautions if you have no choice but to be outside. In extreme heat situations, listening to the experts on how to protect yourself can be a matter of life and death.
Keep an eye on the heat
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a HeatRisk tracking tool that gives you the daily risk level based on your ZIP code, plus tips to help manage your health in the heat. Pay attention to your weather app for temperatures and weather alerts. You may also see the temperature that it feels like, which can be higher than the “official” temperature because of humidity and other factors.
During heat waves, you may expect temperatures to cool at night, but sometimes they don’t drop enough to offer genuine relief. Cooler night temperatures give your body a chance to reset from the heat that can impact your body. But when temperatures remain high, your body doesn’t have that chance, which can be dangerous for your health. So even when the sun goes down, continue to pay attention to how hot it is — and not just outside your home.
Make sure your home is cool
Keeping your home cool is essential to protecting your health during a heat wave also helps keep your pets safe and protect loved ones from the extremely warm temps.
“Stay in the coolest area of your home as much as possible,” said CNET Editor Corin Cesaric-Eppie. “The National Weather Service also cautions against direct sun exposure as it can result in a sunburn, which makes it more difficult for your body to cool down.”
In your home, air conditioning is the most common way to ensure you stay comfortable and safe.
Cesaric-Epple and CNET’s Labs team have reviewed more than a dozen portable and window AC units and found that window units have optimal cooling performance. Energy Star models can also keep you cool while using less electricity.
If you’re not in the market for a new AC unit, there are other tips to keep your home cool. Consider keeping your curtains closed to prevent sunlight from warming up your home. And use weatherstripping or other materials to seal up any gaps around your doors and windows to keep cool air in and hot, humid air out.
Stay hydrated
It’s especially important to stay hydrated during heat waves. Dehydration can be dangerous because your body needs sweat to stay cool. Drink water regularly and take water with you when you go outside. The CDC recommends drinking eight ounces of water every 15 to 20 minutes when working outside in the heat. You should drink in short intervals instead of consuming a large amount all at once. Most importantly, the CDC doesn’t recommend drinking more than 48 ounces of water per hour.
CNET has more advice to help you stay cool this weekend, and throughout the summer, including a handheld fan we recommend to help you stay cool, and heat illness signs to watch out for.
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