Heat, Humidity Take Aim at Golden Valley Area This Week

With no relief in sight until maybe Friday, the greater Twin Cities area is under a heat advisory beginning Tuesday and lasting through Thursday. 

According to the National Weather Service, a large area of high pressure is staying put over the midwest, which will allow hot and humid conditions to persist until a cold front drops south Thursday night bringing somewhat cooler and drier air Friday. But it may come at a price with possible thunderstorms.

Temperatures are expected in the low to mid 90s, but with the high humidity it will feel more like 100 degrees in the afternoon. The evenings and overnight won't bring much relief either as temperatures will only be falling into the 70s.

As a reference, dewpoints in the 70s are normally seen in more tropical areas, such as South America. 

The NWS said heat combined with Gulf of Mexico air and its corresponding moisture will make dangerous conditions for those without air conditioning on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The NWS offers these heat safety tips: 

Recognizing Heat-Related Illness

During extremely hot and humid weather the body's ability to cool itself is affected. When the body heats too rapidly to cool itself properly, or when too much fluid or salt is lost through dehydration or sweating, body temperature rises and heat-related illnesses may develop.

Heat-related illnesses can range from heat cramps to heat exhaustion to more serious heat stroke. Heat stroke can result in death and requires immediate medical attention.

Factors or conditions that can make some people more susceptible to heat-related illnesses include age (older adults and young children), obesity, fever, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, prescription drug and alcohol use, and sunburn. Sunburn, caused by ultraviolet radiation from the sun, can significantly retard the skin's ability to shed excess heat.

The sun's shortwave radiation (yellow in figure below) heats objects that it strikes.  For example, a dark dashboard or seat can easily reach temperatures in the range of 180 to over 200°F. These objects (e.g., dashboard, steering wheel, child seat) heat the adjacent air by conduction and convection and also give off longwave radiation (red in figure below) which is very efficient at warming the air trapped inside a vehicle.

Keep an eye on pets, the elderly and remember to be careful with infants and young children in the heat, especially in cars. The recent deaths of two children on the East Coast during 90 degree weather underscore the dangers of leaving young ones in hot cars.

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