NOAA Issues Excessive Heat Watch Through the Weekend

NOAA ISSUED AN ALERT FOR VERY HOT TEMPERATURES EXPECTED FRIDAY AND INTO THIS WEEKEND. EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THE COMBINATION OF MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 90S TO LOWER 100's AND HIGH RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 105 AND 110 DEGREES FRIDAY,  AND BETWEEN 108 AND 113 DEGREES SATURDAY.

THE HOTTEST TEMPERATURES AND HIGHEST HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL OCCUR IN THE MIDDLE TO LATE AFTERNOON HOURS OF BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, AND POSSIBLY EXTENDING AN HOUR OR 2 INTO THE EARLY EVENING ON SATURDAY. 

IMPACTS

HEAT OF THIS MAGNITUDE CAN EASILY TRIGGER HEAT ILLNESSES...SUCH AS HEAT EXHAUSTION OR EVEN HEAT STROKE. THE BODIES ABILITY TO KEEP ITSELF COOLED CAN BREAK DOWN DUE TO CIRCULATORY AND CHEMICAL CHANGES WHEN EXPOSED TO THE EXTREME HEAT. THE ELDERLY AND INFANTS ARE PRIME TARGETS TO SUCCUMB TO THESE HEAT ILLNESSES.

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH HIGH RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION STARTING FRIDAY AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEKEND.

INSTRUCTIONS:

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES WHEN SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS, WEAR LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING AND TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS IN A SHADED, OR IF AVAILABLE AN AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT. MAKE SURE OUTSIDE PETS AND LIVESTOCK HAVE PLENTY OF WATER AND SHADED VENTILATION. NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS UNATTENDED IN A VEHICLE WITH WINDOWS DRAWN WITH NO AVAILABLE AIR CONDITIONING. TEMPERATURES INSIDE THE VEHICLE COULD QUICKLY REACH IN EXCESS OF 150 DEGREES WITHIN 15 TO 30 MINUTES OF DIRECT SUNLIGHT.