Summer Arrives by Kicking in the Front Door!

Hello everyone, and welcome back!

This is just about as fitting as it gets! Summer officially begins on June 20 at 7:09 PM, and will it ever feel the part! We're staring down the barrel of what will likely be the first heat wave of the year in many parts of the eastern United States, though we don't expect it to be an official heat wave here in New York and New England. However you spin it, we are looking at some seriously hot weather! With that in mind, let's talk heat safety!

When dealing with excessive heat and humidity, it is immensely important to know your limits and the limits of the human body. Normal body temperature usually sits at 98.6°F and is generally considered the optimal temperature for the body to conduct its metabolic processes. The harder the body works, the hotter it gets, and the body needs to be able to cool itself through processes such as sweating in over to avoid overheating. This cooling process becomes increasingly difficult as the heat and humidity rises, as high humidity impairs the body's ability to cool through sweating. When the air is dry, water evaporates from the body more readily and thus cools the body more efficiently. On humid days, the presence of more water vapor in the air tends to limit the amount of water that evaporates away from us, and causes the body to hold on to heat. Add to that increased heat from the environment, and it doesn't take much for our bodies to start to overheat, causing a condition called hyperthermia (the opposite of hypothermia, where the body loses too much heat and begins to shut down). In such cases, heat exhaustion or heat stroke can quickly develop, and can be deadly if not treated in a timely fashion. Before we go on, here's a list of heat-related ailments and their symptoms:

SUNBURN: Redness and pain. In severe cases swelling of skin, blisters, fever, headaches.

HEAT EXHAUSTION: Heavy sweating; weakness; cold, pale, clammy skin; thready pulse; fainting and vomiting but may have normal temperature. 

HEAT STROKE (or sunstroke): High body temperature (106° F or higher), hot dry skin, rapid and strong pulse, possible unconsciousness. 

So, how to protect yourself and loved ones when hot weather rolls in to your area? Well it's all pretty basic stuff, but the simple things can go a very long day!

• Limit strenuous outdoor activities, such as yard work and exercise to the early morning or late evening  when daytime heating is at a minimum.
• Stay hydrated! Avoid alcoholic beverages, soda, or other caffienated drinks. 
• Dress in lightweight clothes and light colors. Brighter colors tend to reflect heat and sunlight, rather than dark colors which absorb them.
• Dial back your protein intake. The body has to work harder to digest meat and other high-protein foods, which in turn can raise your body temperature. 
• Spend more time in air conditioning out of the sun, or have a cool shady spot to retreat to. A/C is your best friend during periods of extreme heat!
• Don't forget the pets! Limit their walks or time outdoors to morning or evening if possible. Keep them in a cool place with A/C or a fan and make sure to keep them hydrated too!

After all of that, don't forget that you can have some fun on hot days! (Just do it safely!) That's what the pool, the beach, or the sprinklers are for, right? Hang in there, and stay cool!

I'll leave you with the forecast and some other important info about the impending heat...

Heat Advisories have been issued for the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys of New York  from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to each the mid 90s with heat index values over 100°

Heat would be one thing, but the humidity really makes things difficult to deal with. Dew point temperatures are expected to be in the upper 60s to low 70s, which means an oppressive air mass. All the more reason to stay cool!

Regional forecast for Wednesday, June 20.

Here's a bonus look at the 7-Day Forecast for the greater Capital Region. Record highs on Wednesday and Thursday in Albany are 97° so we will certainly be in the ballpark. Humidity drops on Friday!

Until next time!