Code Red Heat Emergency Declared In Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA — A 'Code Red' Hot Weather Health Warning has been issued by Montgomery County, the county's Department of Public Safety announced Wednesday.

Temperatures could grow dangerously high this week in the local area, with the heat index pushing 110 degrees.

The Code Red will be in place from Wednesday through Sunday, July 21.

Residents should be careful to avoid heat-related stress and exhaustion.

The county issued the following tips to help stay safe in the hot weather:

• Drink plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• If at all possible, try to get outdoor work completed during the morning to avoid the warmest part of the day
• Keep windows and interior doors open when running a fan at home.
• Keep cool by seeking an air-conditioned building if available, if not, seek rest in the shade.
• Most of the Senior Adult Activity Centers (SAACs) are air-conditioned, as are malls and libraries

The forecast for the next several days, according to the National Weather Service, is included below:

• Wednesday afternoon: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Heat index values as high as 101. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Wednesday night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 9pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 9pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning. Areas of fog after 2am. Low around 74. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
• Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Areas of fog before 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Light west wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thursday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday: Widespread haze. Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon.
• Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 78.
• Saturday: Widespread haze. Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.
• Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 78.
• Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Sunday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Chance of precipitation is 30%.