H-O-T

Hello everyone, and welcome again! As if we needed any reminder, it's Summertime! Of course, with Summer we expect the heat and humidity levels to rise accordingly. Depending on where you live in the country...or the world, you've likely become accustomed to a certain level of Summer heat. Here in Upstate New York and New England, high 80s and low 90s generally serve as the threshold for what many residents would consider hot. Throw in a healthy dose of humidity, and things become uncomfortable fast. By contrast, head to parts of Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and even the central Plains, and most people probably wouldn't bat an eyebrow at a day near 100°.

But, every now and again Mother Nature decides to crank the heater to the max and walk away for a while. It may start as something isolated, like a heat wave over southern Texas or the desert Southwest. A stretch of 95°+ degree days in Phoenix or Albuquerque or a few 100°+ days in Houston and Dallas. Initially, it may look like the pattern will break and the heat will die down. But then, seemingly overnight, the isolated pocket of blistering air becomes a surging torrid leviathan that envelopes two-thirds or more of the nation in dangerously hot and humid air. This has been exactly the case for the better part of the last 2 months here in the U.S.

Now, the monstrous mass of heat and humidity is beginning to make its move. A ridge of high pressure over the southern Plains is gaining strength and beginning its push toward the north and east. In most cases, a ridge of high pressure is something we'd celebrate to an extent. It means fair weather, and at other times of the year, a comfortable moderation in temperatures. This time, however, it's a torrent of dangerous heat that's set to cook us for days on end.

Here are some of the highlights from this unrelenting heat wave so far:

Excessive Heat Watches/Warnings and/or Heat Advisories have been posted for 30 states at the same time, with that number expected to rise to near 40.

As of 7/17/2011, Oklahoma City had seen 27 days with temperatures above 100°. That puts the city on pace to tie or break the record of 50 days set in 1980.

As of 7/10/2011, Witchita Fall, Texas had seen 36 or 38 days will temperatures above 95°.
Knoxville, Iowa recorded a heat index of 131° on 7/18/2011.

Minneapolis, Minnesota broke unofficial the record for the highest dew point temperature ever recorded there. The dew point reached 82 degrees between 3:00 and 4:00 PM on 7/19/2011, breaking the previous record of 81.

National high temperatures on 07/19/2011

All of that is just the tip of the iceberg (or inferno, I guess...) as far as records and notable statistics from this year's heat wave. Now that it's coming our way, it's important to be prepared, and to know what to do to keep yourself safe during an extreme heat wave. The fact of the matter is, heat is one of the biggest weather-related killers, and no one is immune to its dangers.

Here are some important heat safety tips, plus a breakdown of heat-related advisories and warnings:

Heat Advisory: High heat and humidity are expected to result in a heat index of 100°-105° during the daytime, or overnight lows above 80° are expected for 2 consecutive days or more.

Excessive Heat Watch: Issued by the National Weather Service when heat indices in excess of 105ºF during the day combined with nighttime low temperatures of 80ºF or higher are forecast to occur for two consecutive days.

Excessive Heat Warning: Issued when heat index values over 105° are expected for more than 3 hours per day for two days or more, or if heat index values over 115° are expected at all.

What you Should Do:
    -  Limit time spent outdoors.
    -  If you must conduct activities outdoors, limit them to either the early morning or evening.
    -  STAY HYDRATED! Drink plenty of cool water.
    -  Have a cool place to relax, preferably an air-conditioned one.
    -  Brings pets indoors and keep them out of the heat. Take them on short walks only.

Be safe over the next few days, everyone! Until next time!