Dangerous heat will persist Wednesday: Austin nears 40 days above 100

Roberto Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman
·3 min read

As Austin on Tuesday logged its 39th day of triple-digit temperatures, the National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for the five-county metro area, effective through Wednesday night.

Parts of Texas under the warning — including Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Caldwell counties — will experience "dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 107 and heat index values up to 112 expected," the weather service said in a bulletin Tuesday. "Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities."

Weather service meteorologist Monte Oaks explained that "although not every location in the warning area will reach the 105-degree temperature criteria," the bulk of the population lives in the affected counties.

"And this unrelenting heat has already led to an above-normal amount of heat-related illnesses across the region, (so) we think it's worthwhile to go with the stronger messaging," Oaks said in his short-term forecast Tuesday.

More:Use hydration, common sense to protect yourself from Central Texas heat

He added that heat-related deaths are 100% preventable, so forecasters recommend these tips to avoid heat-related illness or worse:

  • Drink plenty of water. Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, which are diuretics and can dehydrate you.

  • Wear loose, light-colored clothing, find a good hat, and use sunscreen.

  • Don’t overexercise, take plenty of breaks, and seek shade or air conditioning to cool off.

  • Try to schedule outdoor activity early in the morning or later in the evening.

  • Keep an eye on children and older folks to spot signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

  • Never leave children or pets in a closed vehicle. On 100-degree days, car interior temperatures can reach deadly levels in a matter of minutes.

  • Provide pets with plenty of fresh water and shaded shelter. If possible, keep pets indoors in extreme heat. Try walking dogs early in the morning or later in the evening, when the pavement is cooler.

Austin's forecast for Wednesday calls for plenty of sunshine with temperatures peaking at 106 degrees. With elevated humidity brought in by southerly winds of 10 mph, that daytime high could feel more like 109 degrees. The heat index takes this into account, which is why it’s often referred to as the “feels like” temperature.

Humidity can make everything feel hotter because the body cools itself through the evaporation of sweat from our skin. Evaporation isn’t as effective when there’s too much moisture in the air.

Wednesday night should be mostly clear with overnight temperatures staying above a balmy 78 degrees amid south-southeast winds of 5 to 15 mph.

Thursday in Austin also will be mostly sunny with the high temperatures easing to 104 degrees amid southerly winds, forecasters said. More clouds will roll in at night, when temperatures bottom out at 78 degrees.

Temperatures on Friday are likely to max out at 102 degrees — the lowest high temperature in the weather service's seven-day forecast for Austin. South winds of 5 to 10 mph will persist into the evening, when temperatures slip to no lower than 77 degrees.

Conditions for Saturday and Sunday will be more of the same, forecasters said, with highs around 102, but Monday could see temperatures rebound to 104 degrees.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Austin temperatures above 100, faces excessive heat warning