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Extreme heat and high temperatures are slamming nearly 200 million Americans this week and officials are putting out warnings. On Thursday (August 12), Americans in 34 states will be placed under some type of heat advisory.
From the West to the East, North and South, officials predict temperatures to get into the triple-digit level and the humidity to be extraordinarily high.
In NYC and parts of New Jersey, residents are under an excessive heat warning, as the heat index –– the weather measurement that tells us what outside actually feels like after humidity and air temperature are factored in –– reaches 100 degrees. The last time the area saw temperatures this high in August was in 2016, NBC News reported.
Washington, D.C. is expected to reach 109 degrees while meteorologists in Philadelphia predict the heat index to reach 106 degrees.
Dangerous heat levels are expected in cities across the country, from Houston, Chicago, St. Louis, Nashville, and more.
How to Stay Safe in the Heat
The CDC recommends taking a few steps to stay safe in extreme temperatures.
Consider personal health factors like age, medical conditions such as heart disease or asthma, when preparing to be outside.
If you’re at risk for heat-related illness, are elderly or have underlying health conditions, the CDC recommends:
- Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible
- Drink more water than usual
- Try to avoid using your stove or oven to cook since it can make you and your house hotter
- Check on elderly friends and neighbors often and have someone do the same for you
- Limit outdoor activities and/or plan them carefully to avoid being outside midday
- Wear sunscreen
- Social distance if you need to take off your mask in the heat
Click here for more tips from the CDC, including symptoms of heat-related illnesses.
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