Things are about to heat up with dangerously hot temperatures in the Northeast next week, prompting health officials to urge people to make plans now to stay safe.
The heat wave follows an earlier-than-usual one in the Southwest last week, which saw triple-digit temperatures in cities like Phoenix, where there were 645 heat-related deaths last year.
The next heat wave will ramp up Sunday in the center of the country before spreading eastward, the National Weather Service said, with some areas likely to see extreme heat in reaching daily records. The heat wave could last all week and into the weekend in many places.
Here are some things to know:
What areas will see extreme heat?
There will be areas of extreme heat — when there’s little or no overnight relief — from eastern Kansas to Maine, according to a National Weather Service heat risk map. Heat will build over the Plains states on Sunday, later spreading to the northeast Atlantic Coast, including in and around New York City.
Temperatures could reach the mid- to high-90s in many areas and likely will be at daily records in the Northeast, with the dew point making some areas feel as hot as 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the weather service said.
Although nighttime temperatures will dip into the 70s, providing some relief, the duration of the heat can have a cumulative and potentially dangerous effect on the body, National Weather Service meteorologist Steven Freitag said.
Young children and infants, pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic medical conditions are especially vulnerable, as are those who can’t get around well or who live alone.
How can you stay safe?
Stay indoors in an air-conditioned space, experts say. If you don’t have air conditioning, find out if your community will open cooling centers. But even those with air conditioning should plan ahead in the event of a power outage, Freitag said.
Limit outdoor activities to the morning, or, better yet, don’t go outside.
“There really shouldn’t be any outdoor activity with physical exertion during the peak of the day,” Freitag said.
Other tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention include drinking plenty of water, taking a cool shower or bath and wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.
Communities can prepare by opening cooling centers in places like schools and libraries. Some also send text messages to residents or have hotlines that people can call for help.
Heat-related illness can be deadly if not recognized and treated early, and often starts with muscle cramps or spasms, experts say. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke could follow.
A person suffering heat stroke may experience headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness and a body temperature above 103 F (39.4 C). They also may have hot, red dry or damp skin; rapid pulse and faint or lose consciousness.
The CDC advises people to call 911 immediately and, while waiting for help, use cool cloths or a cool bath and move them to an air-conditioned space, but do not give them anything to drink.
