Hot-car risks and heat-related illnesses continue this week
16 children in this country have died from heat-related illnesses after being locked in a car in hot weather so far in 2019. These deaths are senseless, easily preventable, and it's obviously still a problem. And with another hot high today near or above 90 degrees, that could easily happen here.
With today's highs in the upper 80s and low 90s, it can feel like 120 degrees or more in a parked car in just 30 minutes.
With highs returning to the upper 80s to the north, low 90s and a new heat advisory to the south, after 10 minutes in a parked car out in the afternoon sun, temperatures can easily climb to 110 degrees! In 30, it's likely over 120 degrees anywhere in the car! Heat stroke is incredibly likely or already setting in under those kinds of temperatures. So, please remember to check the back seat when out and about today and this summer for both kids and pets, even if you're only gone for 5 minutes!
With the heat advisory today, that means that the heat indices along and south of highway 30 will be at or above 100 degrees this afternoon and evening! Yesterday was the hottest day of 2019 so far with a high of 88 degrees and today could easily top that. After today, conditions will pretty much stay the same with "feels like" back into the 90s. Luckily there's still signs that the heat cools off this weekend.
But, for today and the next few days, you want to continue to take precautions if you're spending time outdoors. With a heat index in the 90s and low 100s, heat exhaustion is likely to set in only minutes. Heat stroke can happen after 30 minutes to an hour. So, be sure to take a lot of breaks and drink plenty of water if you're outside today, or just hang out by the pool or beach again to stay cool.