Community Corner

Heat Advisory Issued for Richfield Through Thursday Night

The National Weather Service says daytime highs will be in the low to mid 90s and nighttime lows will remain in the 70s through Thursday.

It would be a good idea to find yourself an air conditioner or fan because it's going to be a hot few days.

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for southeastern Minnesota, including Richfield and the Twin Cities, through Thursday night.
 
Here is the text of the advisory:

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN HAS ISSUED A HEAT ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT THURSDAY.

* TEMPERATURES: DAYTIME HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 90S...WITH LOWS ONLY IN THE MID 70S. WHEN COMBINED WITH HIGH HUMIDITY...HEAT INDICES OF 95 TO 100 DEGREES ARE EXPECTED EACH AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS: THE PROLONGED HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL LEAD TO A HEIGHTENED RISK OF HEAT RELATED STRESS AND ILLNESS... ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUNG AND ELDERLY...AND THOSE WITHOUT AIR CONDITIONING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK...THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY...CALL 9 1 1.

Cooler and dryer air is expected to arrive Friday, says the weather service.

The south metro already was feeling the heat at lunchtime Tuesday. The weather station at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport reported a high of 90 at 12:53 p.m., part of a temperature trend that had been mounting all morning.

THE HAZARDS OF EXCESSIVE HEAT
The National Weather Service provides a wealth of weather-related health information on its website. Here is how excessive heat can affect our bodies:

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.

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Links to other health information is available on the website.

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