GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - Although the first two days of the week have been very pleasant, increasing heat and humidity may have you wanting to spend some time indoors this week.
Starting Wednesday, the mercury will be on the way up as temperatures pass the 90 degree mark. To make the air much less comfortable, dew points are expected to reach 70 degrees, which means the air will feel very humid.
When heat and humidity are factored together, we get the heat index, or the temperature that it feels like outside. Humid air feels hotter because your body has a harder time evaporating the sweat from your skin.
It takes energy to evaporate the droplets of sweat from your body, so as they evaporate they take some heat away from your skin into the atmosphere. This helps you stay cool. This is also why a "dry heat" like an Arizona heat doesn't feel as hot as a humid Minnesota heat.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for Wednesday. Here is their corresponding text:
Heat advisory in effect from 1 pm to 8 pm CDT Wednesday:
The National Weather Service in Twin Cities/Chanhassen has issued a heat advisory...which is in effect from 1 pm to 8 pm CDT Wednesday.
Temperature...in the upper 80s and 90s but with the humidity it
will feel like 95 to 105.
Impacts...the hot and humid conditions will lead to a heightened risk of heat related stress and illnesses.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible...reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water.
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 strokeis an emergency...call 911.
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 andneighbors.
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