After a record high of 100 degrees Tuesday, June 16, the mercury was expected to drop only a few degrees, into the mid to upper 90s, late next week.
“It is going to be above-normal temperatures probably for the next eight to 10 days,” weather service forecaster Dave Loewenthal said Wednesday, June 17.
While he doesn’t expect to see Tuesday’s record temperature, he said it will continue to be oppressively hot.
Humidity will compound the problem. With dew points in the mid-70s projected, heat indexes are expected to be 105 degrees, possibly more. When it comes down to it, there isn’t much difference between the mid and upper 90s as far as the human body is concerned, he said.
“It is going to be pretty darn humid and nasty,” Loewenthal said.
The weather is particularly hard on the elderly and the very young, especially if they don’t have access to an air-conditioned space. But even healthy people can get sick by too much exposure to heat, report the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Both the CDC and the N.C. Division of Public Health advise it is critical for people to drink extra fluids.
Extra safety measures are needed for people who must work outside, such as paving contractors and public works employees.
The Wrightsville Beach Public Works Department encourages its crews to drink plenty of fluids and take brief breaks if necessary, said director Mike Vukelich.
“We encourage them to stay hydrated, and we do supply them with a lot of Gatorade and ice water,” he said.
Schedules also change to allow employees to work during the coolest part of the day. Several crews came in at 4 a.m. Wednesday, including the group installing new parking signs, Vukelich said. Meter readers came in at 6 a.m. and stopped work before noon to avoid the hottest part of the day.
One worker went home early Monday because he was feeling the effects of the heat, Vukelich said, and he also stayed home Tuesday. Although the department usually has prescribed breaks, “in weather like this, I have no problem with them sitting out for a few minutes and taking a drink of water or Gatorade,” he said.
Health officials caution people to take steps to prevent serious effects from heat.
The N.C. Division of Public Health has these recommendations:
• Increase fluid intake, even if you don’t feel thirsty
• Spend some time in a cool or air-conditioned environment
• Reduce normal activity levels
• If you take medicines that can impede heat loss (for example, blood pressure, allergy and migraine drugs), talk to your doctor about how to stay safe.
The CDC also suggests the following:
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen
• Check on neighbors or relatives
And there’s one more: Never leave children or pets in cars. The temperature inside a car climbs to dangerous levels in extreme heat, and the outcome can be tragic.
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