Weather

A Hellish Summer: Houston Already Seeing Record Heat

The dog days of summer are still two months away, but temps hovering in the mid to upper 90s will make the start of June feel like August.

HOUSTON, TX — To say that it is hot in Houston — or anywhere in Texas for that matter — would be a serious understatement of fact.

While Houstonians and Texans are quite accustomed to the heat during the summer months, it seems a little early to be thinking of triple digit temperatures, especially since school is still in session in many areas of Texas.

High temperatures during the Memorial Day weekend topped out at 97 degrees in some parts of the Houston area, and the high temps are expected to hang around most of the week with highs hitting 95 or higher through the weekend.

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To make matters worse, the humidity will factor in with heat indexes of over 100 degrees in some cases for the foreseeable future.

According to KTRK-13 Meteorologist Travis Herzog, May 2018 is the third hottest May in Houston's history with 20 days of temperatures in the 90s.

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But, it's hot everywhere in Texas.

In Dallas, residents are being told to stay out of the heat, and stay hydrated if they are outdoors and avoid over exertion, which can lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which can be fatal in some cases.

In Austin, a woman in her 50s has already been hospitalized for a heat-related issue at about 4 p.m. Sunday when temperatures were hovering at 96 degrees, and the same thing happened to a man in his 50s a day earlier in the same location.

  • Cool, moist skin when in the heat
  • Heavy sweating
  • Faintness
  • Dizziness
  • Rapid pulse
  • Low blood pressure when standing
  • Muscle cramps
  • Nausea
  • Headaches.

Symptoms of Heat Stroke:

  • Throbbing headache.
  • Dizziness and light-headedness.
  • Lack of sweating despite the heat.
  • Red, hot, and dry skin.
  • Muscle weakness or cramps.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Rapid heartbeat, which may be either strong or weak.
  • Rapid, shallow breathing.

Pets can also fall victim to heat injuries, particularly dogs that are left outside in the direct heat.

The symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke are similar in pets to those in humans. Pets should be kept in shady, breezy areas or indoors.

The pet should be taken to see a veterinarian immediately if it seems lethargic, has diarrhea, vomits or begins to stumble or seize.

Image: Shutterstock

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