Burlington is under a 48-hour heat advisory as a heatwave hits the Midwest. Here's what to expect
Just like much of the Midwest, Burlington is expected to be stuck in a heatwave through Wednesday.
The heat wave prompted the National Weather Service to issue a 48-hour heat advisory, a rarity as generally temperatures dip down in the evening enough to take the temperature out of a danger zone.
“The fact that we are in this for at least 48 hours is pretty noteworthy,” said Peter Speck, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Quad Cities.
Burlington temperatures typically are much higher in the day and lower in the evening, which provides a bit of overnight relief. Speck said that won't be the case for the first part of this week as the region will see 48 hours of high temperatures with very little break in between. The low for Tuesday and Wednesday could be as high as 78 degrees.
According to Federal Emergency Management Agency project Ready.Gov, extreme heat periods are marked as temperatures of more than 90 degrees for at least two days. These periods of time can be particularly difficult for those who are sensitive to heat such as the elderly or those with certain illnesses like diabetes.
When spending time outside, it is important dress in lightweight, light-colored clothing to decrease heat, according to Ready.Gov. Time outside should be minimized as much as possible. If one must be outside, it is important to find shade and wear a hat that can protect the face. Staying hydrated is also critical.
Another part of what will make the heat wave so severe is the dew point, which directly influences humidity and humidity impacts the heat index. While it is possible to have a high dew point even in low temperatures, the higher the dew point, the higher the heat index.
“We aren't going to see much or really any relief during the nighttime,” Speck said.
This week's heat advisory marks the second major heat advisory of the year, with the first warning coming in May. Speck said that the temperatures and humidity will make this week’s advisory much worse than the prior warning.
The high temperatures are expected to culminate with thunderstorms Tuesday night. Temperatures are expected to continue to stay high through at least Friday, but thunderstorms should help to relieve humidity. Speck said there is a potential that Tuesday's thunderstorms could be severe.
More: Iowans warned they may see rolling blackouts this summer as NOAA predicts above-average temperatures
How you can help to alleviate stress on the power grid
Between skyrocketing oil, gas prices and an increased need for air conditioning, there is a concern that there may not be enough energy to keep from having blackouts, but Morgan Hawk, a spokesperson for Alliant Energy, said the company and Midcontinent Independent System Operator are doing all they can to prevent rolling blackouts.
Among those efforts are directing members to implement procedures designed to reduce energy demand, purchasing emergency energy from neighbors, if available, and, as a last resort, interrupting power to consumers, which is known as shedding load.
There are also steps taken with certain customers who have opted to be part of a program that decreases stress on the grid.
Hawk said there are steps individual customers can take to lower energy use as well, such as keeping the temperature on their thermostat as high as possible while still being comfortable.
Hawk said using other means such as ceiling fans can be a good way to decrease strain on air conditioners. Unplugging unused electronics is another way to save on power, thus decreasing the stress on the power grid. Even when electronics are not on, they do still use a small amount of power while plugged in.
Laigha Anderson covers government, politics, real estate and health for The Hawk Eye. They can be reached at landerson@thehawkeye.com.
This article originally appeared on The Hawk Eye: Burlington, Iowa heat advisory issued for 48 hours as heatwave hits
