The massive heatwave crushing the middle part of the country is moving east, after claiming 22 lives over the last week. The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for parts of 22 states for the next few days, with heat advisories extending to almost 30 states.
Jump the fold for heat safety tips, and for exactly how hot it's expected to get in the major cities
What do these terms mean?
Heat index -- The heat index is what the temperature
feels like when humidity is factored in. The NWS
has an equation they use to determine the heat index, with hotter and more humid air feeling hotter, having a higher heat index. High humidity isn't only uncomfortable, but it can be deadly. The more moisture there is in the air, the harder it is for sweat to evaporate from your skin, which can lead to heat-related illnesses.
Excessive Heat Warning -- An Excessive Heat Warning is issued when temperature and heat indices are expected to reach extremely high levels for a given area. At these temperatures and heat indices, heat related illnesses can come on very quickly and impact even healthy individuals.
Heat Advisory -- A heat advisory means that temperatures and heat indices are expected to reach dangerous levels for "at-risk" individuals (the young, the elderly, the sick, etc.), those who over-exert themselves or have to work outside for an extended period of time (construction workers, for example).
Heat Safety
If you're in the affected areas, here are some simple tips to keep yourself and those you know safe from a heat related illness.
-Drink plenty of water. Not soda, not alcohol, not Juicy Juice (as delicious as it is), but water.
-Don't go out jogging or weight lifting or playing rugby in the middle of the day. Do any outdoor-activity early in the morning or late in the evening when the day's worst heat has broken and you won't be in direct sunlight.
-Frequently check on elderly or sick neighbors, as they're very susceptible to the heat.
-Keep the kids inside, and for God's sake, don't leave your kids or pets in the car, even for a few seconds.
-Keep your pets inside, and keep them off the sidewalk and hot pavement. Their paw pads can burn, too. You walk around outside for 10 minutes barefoot and see how it feels, you wouldn't do that to your pet.
-If you or know someone who can't keep themselves cool, help them out. Take them to a cooling center. Bring them in your home. Do something so they don't fall victim to the heat.
If, unfortunately, you or someone you know falls ill, here are some symptoms and treatments of heat related illnesses. The following comes from the American Red Cross' website, and falls under their copyrights (but is okay to post as long as I note this 150,000 times).
Heat cramps
Symptoms: Painful, prolonged muscle cramps, often brought on with strenuous activity.
Treatment: Move the person to a cooler place, have them rest, lightly stretch the affected muscle, and replenish their fluids with half a glass (about 4 ounces) of cool water every 15 minutes.
Heat exhaustion
Symptoms: cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness.
Treatment: Move the person to a cooler place, remove or loosen tight clothing and spray the person with water. You can also apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin. Fan the person. If they are conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Watch for changes in condition. If the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose consciousness, call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
Heat stroke
Symptoms: Hot, red skin which may be dry or moist; changes in consciousness; vomiting; and high body temperature.
Treatment: This is a life-threatening condition. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number immediately. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the person’s body by immersing them up to their neck in cold water if possible. Otherwise, douse or spray the person with cold water, or cover the person with cold, wet towels or bags of ice.
© Copyright 2011 The American National Red Cross
Heat Forecasts
I'm including these NWS forecasts for the large metro areas, with a transcription below for each. Click the link to jump to the metro area of your choice. The forecasts included are only for the duration of the heatwave. If you live in an area outside of those which I post, consult the NWS or your favorite weather outlet for forecast temperature and heat indices.
Keep in mind that the following temperature forecasts are air temperature only -- once one factors in the humidity, the heat index will be much hotter than the air temperatures listed below.
Jump to...
Chicago, IL area
St. Louis, MO area
Detroit, MI area
Memphis, TN area
Eastern Mass./RI/CT/southern NH
NYC/southern CT
Philly/New Jersey/Delaware
Washington DC/Baltimore/Central VA
Richmond VA/southeastern VA
Central North Carolina
Today, Thursday July 21
Chicago -- 96
Rockford -- 94
Ottawa IL -- 97
Pontiac IL -- 99
Kankakee IL -- 100
Rensselaer IN -- 99
Valparaiso IN -- 94
Gary IN -- 93
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Today, Thursday July 21
St. Louis -- 101
Quincy MO -- 98
Union MO -- 99
Bowling Green MO -- 98
Shelbina MO -- 97
Columbia MO -- 97
Jefferson City MO -- 99
Farmington MO -- 97
Litchfield IL -- 97
Salem IL -- 97
Sparta IL -- 98
Tomorrow, Friday July 22
St. Louis -- 100
Quincy MO -- 97
Union MO -- 99
Bowling Green MO -- 98
Shelbina MO -- 97
Columbia MO -- 97
Jefferson City MO -- 99
Farmington MO -- 97
Litchfield IL -- 97
Salem IL -- 96
Sparta IL -- 97
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Today, Thursday July 21
Detroit MI -- 99
Adrian MI -- 98
Pontiac MI -- 97
Flint MI -- 96
Saginaw MI -- 95
Port Huron MI -- 96
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Today, Thursday July 21
Memphis TN -- 100
Clarksdale MS -- 98
Tupelo MS -- 95
Jonesboro AR -- 98
Jackson TN -- 96
Union City TN -- 98
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Today, Thursday July 21
Hartfield CT -- 97
Putnam CT -- 94
Providence RI -- 92
Springfield MA -- 96
Greenfield MA -- 95
Worcester MA -- 94
Boston MA -- 95
Nashua NH -- 98
Manchester NH -- 97
Concord NH -- 95
Tomorrow, Friday July 22
Hartford CT -- 98
Putnam CT -- 97
Providence RI -- 97
Springfield MA -- 97
Greenfield MA -- 96
Worcester MA -- 96
Boston MA -- 97
Nashua NH -- 97
Manchester NH -- 97
Concord NH -- 96
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Today, Thursday July 21
Newark NJ -- 98
Staten Island -- 93
New York NY -- 96
West Milford NJ -- 96
Middletown NY -- 98
Peekskill NY -- 95
Tomorrow, Friday July 22
Newark NJ -- 100
Staten Island -- 99
New York NY -- 98
West Milford NJ -- 95
Middletown NY -- 96
Peekskill NY -- 96
Danbury CT -- 95
Bridgeport CT -- 95
Middletown CT -- 97
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Today, Thursday July 21
Dover DE -- 95
Atlantic City NJ -- 88
Philadelphia PA -- 98
Trenton NJ -- 98
Allentown PA -- 99
Plainfield NJ -- 98
Tomorrow, Friday July 22
Dover DE -- 98
Atlantic City NJ -- 91
Philadelphia PA -- 100
Trenton NJ -- 100
Allentown PA -- 99
Plainfield NJ -- 99
Saturday July 23
Dover DE -- 96
Atlantic City NJ -- 90
Philadelphia PA -- 100
Trenton NJ -- 96
Allentown PA -- 98
Plainfield NJ -- 97
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Today, Thursday July 21
Charlottesville VA -- 99
Harrisonburg VA -- 100
Fredericksburg VA -- 100
Warrenton VA -- 98
Winchester VA -- 99
Washington DC -- 100
Dulles VA -- 99
Marinsburg WV -- 99
Cumberland MD -- 99
Westminster MD --98
Baltimore MD -- 99
Tomorrow, Friday July 22
Charlottesville VA -- 103
Harrisonburg VA -- 100
Fredericksburg VA -- 102
Warrenton VA -- 99
Winchester VA -- 99
Washington DC -- 103
Dulles VA -- 101
Marinsburg WV -- 99
Cumberland MD -- 98
Westminster MD --99
Baltimore MD -- 102
Saturday July 23
Charlottesville VA -- 99
Harrisonburg VA -- 96
Fredericksburg VA -- 100
Warrenton VA -- 95
Winchester VA -- 97
Washington DC -- 100
Dulles VA -- 99
Marinsburg WV -- 98
Cumberland MD -- 97
Westminster MD --96
Baltimore MD -- 102
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Today, Thursday July 21
Williamston NC -- 98
Elizabeth City NC -- 96
Farmville VA -- 100
Norfolk VA -- 96
Richmond VA -- 100
Salisbury MD -- 97
Ocean City MD -- 86
Friday, Thursday July 22
Williamston NC -- 99
Elizabeth City NC -- 99
Farmville VA -- 102
Norfolk VA -- 99
Richmond VA -- 102
Salisbury MD -- 100
Ocean City MD -- 96
Saturday July 23
Williamston NC -- 98
Elizabeth City NC -- 98
Farmville VA -- 101
Norfolk VA -- 98
Richmond VA -- 101
Salisbury MD -- 99
Ocean City MD -- 95
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Today, Thursday July 21
Albemarle NC -- 99
Fayetteville NC -- 101
Sanford NC -- 100
Goldsboro NC -- 101
Raleigh NC -- 101
Rocky Mount NC -- 99
Henderson NC -- 99
Greensboro NC -- 98
Roanoke Rapids NC -- 99
Tomorrow, Friday July 22
Albemarle NC -- 100
Fayetteville NC -- 102
Sanford NC -- 101
Goldsboro NC -- 101
Raleigh NC -- 102
Rocky Mount NC -- 102
Henderson NC -- 101
Roanoke Rapids NC -- 102
Greensboro NC -- 98
Saturday July 23
Albemarle NC -- 97
Fayetteville NC -- 101
Sanford NC -- 100
Goldsboro NC -- 100
Raleigh NC -- 100
Rocky Mount NC -- 100
Henderson NC -- 99
Roanoke Rapids NC -- 100
Greensboro NC -- 97
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Stay cool, everybody!