It will feel like 110 degrees in Bloomington this week
Dangerous heat will descend on Bloomington in the middle of this week, with the heat index forecast to climb to 110 degrees.
A meteorologist urged people to check on their loved ones, especially vulnerable people including children, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions.
How hot will it get in Bloomington this week?
Temperatures will rise to the upper 90s on Wednesday and Thursday.
Humidity will push the heat index to 110 on those days, and possibly even higher, said Jason Puma, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis.
The hottest hours will be between 2 and 6 p.m.
How should you prepare for the heat wave in Bloomington?
If people have to be outdoors, Puma said they should take frequent breaks and stay hydrated, even before they go outside.
He warned that successive days of high heat can take a cumulative toll on the human body, which means that it cannot as easily recover. And that means people may be more susceptible to heat-related illness on the third or fourth consecutive day of high heat.
Puma urged people to check on their loved ones, neighbors, pets and especially vulnerable people such as children, the elderly and those with chronic health conditions.
He also said people should avoid outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day. That means if people want to exercise, they should do so in the early morning rather than the late afternoon.
Justin Baker, deputy director of Monroe County Emergency Management, said if people have to work outdoors, they should do their best to stay in the shade. They also need to stay hydrated and take multiple breaks every hour to drink fluids and spend time in a cool place. He also urged people to make sure their cars have plenty of gas in case they need to use the car’s air conditioning to stay cool.
Baker also said people should limit consumption of coffee, soda and alcohol because they cause dehydration.
He urged people to have their air conditioner serviced, to buy fans and to have an alternate location to cool off in case their air conditioner stops working.
Where are the cooling stations in Monroe County?
Baker said people can cool off at the following public locations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Friday:
Bloomington Fire Station 1 (headquarters): 226 S. College Ave.
Bloomington Fire Station 2: 209 S. Fairfield Drive.
Ellettsville Fire Department headquarters: 5080 W. Ind. 46.
Monroe Fire Protection District - Clear Creek: 9094 S. Strain Ridge Road.
Monroe Fire Protection District - Indian Creek: 8019 S. Rockport Road.
Monroe Fire Protection District - Bloomington: 5081 N. Old Ind. 37.
Monroe Fire Protection District - Van Buren: 2130 S. Kirby Road.
The locations do not provide food, showers or sleeping areas.
What about pets during a heat wave?
Baker said cooling stations in Clear Creek and Van Buren townships can accommodate pets so long as they are in a kennel or carrier.
PetSmart, 240 N. Gates Drive, and Rural King, 3201 Ind. 45, will allow pet owners to let their pets cool off so long as they are on a leash or in a kennel or cage, he said.
What are the signs of heat-related illness?
Body temperature of 103 or higher
Hot, red, dry or damp skin
Fast, strong pulse
Headache
Dizziness
Nausea
Confusion
Heat stroke is a medical emergency and you should call 911. Do not give anything to drink to anyone who has a heat stroke. Move the person to a cooler place and help lower that person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath.
Heat exhaustion symptoms:
Heavy sweating
Cool, pale and clammy skin
Fast, weak pulse
Nausea or vomiting
Muscle cramps
Tiredness or weakness
Dizziness
Headache
Fainting
If you are experiencing those symptoms, move to a cool place, sip water, loosen your clothing and put cool, wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath. Get medical help right away if you are vomiting, your symptoms get worse or they last longer than one hour.
What is causing the heat wave?
Puma said a large area of high pressure is hovering over the central part of the country. The pattern is not unusual except perhaps that it is a bit larger and farther west than normal.
The sinking of warm air within a wide area of low pressure is called subsidence. As air sinks, it expands and warms, which can cause excessive heat, he said.
When will temperatures drop?
Puma said high temperatures this weekend will be on the upper 80s.
“There is some relief on the horizon,” he said.
Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Dangerous heat coming in Bloomington this week
