Excessive heat advisory underway for Myrtle Beach area. Here’s how hot it could get

The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning until 7 pm today, anticipating dangerous heat index values up to 110 degrees.

“Obviously it is summer and people know it’s hot in South Carolina, but we’ve seen high heat and humidity for the last couple of days straight, and today it’s just going to be just even hotter than the past couple days,” said Horry County Emergency Services public information officer Thomas Bell.

To stay safe from the heat, it’s important to drink plenty of fluids.

“It’s absolutely critical that people stay hydrated,” Bell said, “especially if they are outside or they are sweating because they are losing more of that water faster.”

If you plan to spend the day outdoors, Bell recommends limiting your time in direct sunlight and taking breaks if possible. If you can’t cool off in an air conditioned building, find a shady area outside.

For those out in the heat, it’s important to listen to your body. Heavy sweating, rapid heart rate, nausea, muscle cramps, headache, confusion and dizziness are all signs of heat sickness, according to the CDC, and can be serious.

“We just want people to heed that excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service and understand the limits that their bodies can take, especially outside,” Bell said. “Watch out for certain populations, young children, the elderly, those are folks who are going to experience heat-related illnesses faster.”

Animals are also vulnerable to the heat. The Horry County Code of Ordinances prohibits tethering animals outside during extreme weather, including temperatures above 90 degrees. Bell recommends bringing outdoor pets inside, at least during afternoon hours of peak heat, and making sure they have access to shade and plenty of water.

Bell is optimistic that the rain forecasted this week will bring temperatures down to safe conditions.

“The nice thing is we are expecting, or the National Weather Service is expecting, some pop up storms and showers so that could help cool things off faster,” Bell said. “This should be the last day in their forecast that we would expect any sort of heat advisory, or at least the next couple of days as rain becomes a bit more likely.”