Fourth of July weather on MS Coast will make you sweat. How hot will it get this week?
If your air conditioner isn’t working this week, pack your bags, visit friends or find the nearest store to browse until at least 7 p.m. The MS Coast will experience dangerously hot weather conditions.
The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning Monday, forecasting a heat index up to 116 degrees for the day and the rest of the week will have more of the same. Covered patios and large oaks won’t offer much relief. AccuWeather said Monday’s 97 degree weather would feel like 103 degrees in the shade.
The majority of the week will have highs in the 90s
- Monday: high if 97 degrees, low of 72 degrees
- Tuesday: 98 degrees, 79 degrees, with a possible thunderstorm
- Wednesday: 95 degrees, 78 degrees, with a chance of rain
- Thursday, July Fourth: 93 degrees, 78 degrees and cloudy
- Friday: 93 degrees, 76 degrees, with a chance of rain
- Saturday: 89 degrees, 74 degrees, with a chance of rain
- Sunday: 92 degrees, 74 degrees and cloudy
- Monday: 92 degrees, 74 degrees with a chance of rain
The week’s patchy clouds, thunderstorms, and excessive heat will have the added bonus of high humidity. Showers expected Tuesday, July 9 will offer a little relief, with a high of 88 degrees, but AccuWeather said the high would be back up to 95 degrees the following day.
Check on your neighbors
In heatwaves, the most vulnerable populations are pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, children and those who are chronically ill.
“Extreme heat events have been associated with adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality, as well as congenital cataracts,” according to the National Weather Service.
Infants and young children have a harder time adapting to hot weather and are more likely to end up in the emergency room during heat waves. Be sure to keep your vehicles locked and keys out of reach. Nearly 25% of children killed by a heat stroke in a vehicle gained access to the vehicle on their own, according to noheatstroke.org.
If you have neighbors in any of these categories, be sure to check on them. Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include dizziness, thirst, heavy sweating, weakness and nausea. Move the person suffering heat exhaustion to a cooler place, loosen their clothing and have them sip water. If the symptoms persist, seek medical attention.
The symptoms of a heat stroke include dizziness, confusion and losing consciousness. Follow the steps for heat exhaustion, cool with ice or water and call 911. A heat stroke can cause death or a permanent disability.
Cooling down
- The National Weather Service offered these tips for handling a heat wave.
- Use air conditioners or spend time in air-conditioned locations like the library or mall.
- Use portable electric fans to exhaust heat from the room and draw in cooler air.
- Do not direct the flow of a portable fan toward you when the room is 90 degrees or higher. The dry air will dehydrate you faster.
- Drink plenty of water, non-alcoholic beverages and decaffeinated drinks, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
- Eat light, cool, meals that are easy to digest. Stick with salads and fruit, if you can.
- Wear lightweight, loose fitting, light colored clothing.
- Avoid direct sunlight. Sunburn blocks your body’s ability to cool down.
For more heat health tips, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This story was originally published July 1, 2024 at 3:47 PM.
