High heat expected in Augusta this weekend. See what you can do about it.
Temperatures are expected to rise in Augusta heading into the weekend, hitting a projected high of 98 degrees on Saturday, and the local fire services are advising people to be careful. Here is what you should know as the long hot summer comes on in full force.
According to the National Weather Service, highs are going to be in the upper 90s the rest of the week:
Thursday - Sunny, with a high near 95.
Friday - Mostly sunny, with a high near 95, slight chance of showers after 2 p.m.
Saturday - Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
Sunday - Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97, chance of showers after 2 p.m.
On Tuesday, Augusta Fire and Emergency Management tweeted a video with tips for staying cool in these tempuratures.
This week in Augusta, the heat index is forecasted to reach high temperatures. To ensure safety amidst this heat, it is strongly recommended that individuals take specific precautionary measures.
Community Cooling Centers click ➡️ https://t.co/CyilGxm6Qa. pic.twitter.com/3pgavYaV0l— Augusta Fire & EMA (@ARC_EMA) June 27, 2023
Augusta maintains a list of heating and cooling shelters at a number of recreation, parks and facilities buildings. The city lists all of the shelters, along with phone numbers and hours of operations, on its website at www.augustaga.gov.
No watches or warnings are in effect as of Wednesday. The NWS does not issue until the weather is expected to hit 105-109 degrees or 100-104 degrees, east and west of the Blue Ridge, respectively, and none of the temperatures are expected to hit that.
Still, those working or playing outside may want to be more conscious of the heat as they head into the weekend. On Wednesday, the WGBT Index, a measure of heat stress in direct sunlight, was at 83 in Augusta — at which point the NWS recommended taking a 15 minute break every hour if you are doing physical work in direct sunlight.
Some people are more vulnerable than others to the heat, but the Center for Disease Control recommends everyone be careful during hot weather:
Stay in air-conditioned locations as much as possible;
Drink plenty of fluids, whether you feel thirsty or not;
If you are outside, wear loose, light clothing and pace yourself; and,
Take a cool shower or bath.
And this weekend is unlikely to be the only time in the coming month when the heat is high, the CDC estimates there will be eight days of extreme heat in July.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta will see high heat this weekend - how to stay cool
