Excessive Heat Warning Issued For Central Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD — With heat indices climbing in central Maryland, the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for multiple jurisdictions. The warning calls for dangerous heat that may cause illness.

The excessive heat warning is in effect until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3. Temperatures will be around 110 degrees on the heat index, with actual temperatures in the mid 90s, weather officials said.

"An excessive heat warning means that a prolonged period of dangerously high temperatures will occur," the National Weather Service stated in the warning. "The combination of extreme temperatures and high humidity will create a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are expected. Check in on relatives and neighbors."

Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Calvert, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties are included in the excessive heat warning, along with Baltimore City and Washington, D.C. The heat advisory for these areas is canceled, replaced with the excessive heat warning.

Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during warm or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.

Outdoor exertion and extended exposure to the heat may cause heat stress during the warning period. To avoid becoming ill, people should reschedule strenuous activities to the early morning or evening; drink water; and wear light, loose-fitting clothing. Those working outside should take frequent breaks in shade or air-conditioning. Anyone who becomes overcome by the heat should move to a cool, shaded location.

Call 911 if heat stroke is suspected. Heat stroke, the most serious heat-related illness, can be fatal if not treated immediately. It occurs when the body's temperature rises rapidly and the sweating mechanism fails, leading to overheating without a way to cool down. Symptoms of heat stroke include confusion; slurred speech; seizures; hot, dry skin or extreme sweating; altered mental status; very high body temperature; and loss of consciousness/coma.

Here are several ways to stay safe in the heat:

• Lighten up. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors reflect away some of the sun's energy. It is also a good idea to wear a hat or to use an umbrella.
• Drink water. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you don't feel thirsty. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate the body. Avoid salt tablets unless directed by a physician.
• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid high-protein foods, which increase metabolic heat.
• Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 and 7 a.m.
• Stay inside. If air-conditioning is not available, go to the lowest floor out of the sunshine. Remember that electric fans do not cool; they simply circulate the air.
• Be a good neighbor. During heat waves, check in on elderly residents in your neighborhood and those who do not have air conditioning.

Air Quality Alert: Code Orange

As if the heat isn't enough, a "code orange" air quality alert is in effect Tuesday for Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Cecil, Harford and Howard counties and Baltimore City. The alert means that pollution concentrations may be unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Children, older adults, heart/lung disease sufferers and asthmatics are considered sensitive; they should avoid strenuous activity and outdoor exercise Tuesday to minimize the effects from the air quality, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment, which issued the alert.

Check the National Weather Service page to see a breakdown of alerts by region around Maryland.

Image via National Weather Service.National Weather Service.