Heat Advisory Issued For The Hudson Valley

With oppressively high heat and humidity settling down over the Hudson Valley, the National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory, which is in effect from noon to 9 PM EDT Saturday. Meteorologists and utility officials warn that temps in the 90s to 100 mean energy demand will surge.

For Saturday:

• HEAT INDEX VALUES...In the upper 90s. Heat index values will be at least a few degrees higher on Sunday.
• TIMING...Highest heat indices in the mid to late afternoon.
• IMPACTS...Extreme heat can cause illness and death among at-risk population who cannot stay cool. The heat and humidity may cause heat stress during outdoor exertion or extended exposure.

Friday should just feel like a hot summer day. But then temperatures will climb.

"You’ll want to take it a bit slow on Saturday, as the heat will surely be on the rise," said Hudson Valley Weather. "Sunday is the day things get oppressive, and potentially dangerous."

A Heat Advisory is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 95 to 99 degrees for two or more consecutive days, or 100 to 104 degrees for any length of time.

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! In cases of heat stroke call 9 1 1.

Utility companies will have crews ready to respond to any brownouts or other outages that occur during the extreme heat.

Meanwhile, remember these tips:

• Set your air conditioning to the highest comfortable temperature. Every degree you lower the thermostat drives up your bill by 6 percent.
• When the AC is running, close doors to keep cool air in and hot air out.
• Even when using AC, use ceiling and other fans for additional cooling and better circulation.
• Keep shades, blinds and curtains closed. About 40 percent of unwanted heat comes through windows.
• Turn off AC units, lights and other appliances when not at home and use a timer or smart technology to turn on your air conditioner about a half-hour before arriving home.
• Keep AC filters clean.
• If you run a business, keep your door closed while the AC is running. Don’t burn through your profits to cool the street.
• To reduce heat and moisture in your home, run appliances such as ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers in the early morning or late at night when it’s cooler outside.

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