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The summer of was a wake up call for people to take extreme heat conditions seriously. There were 1, heat related fatalities during the summer of and most of them occurred within a 5 day period in July.
A deadly combination of high temperature and humidity in the Midwest created stifling conditions that were unrelenting. In Chicago alone, people perished. The most vulnerable population in heat waves are the elderly. Additionally, urban locations, laden with concrete, asphalt and traffic, tend to be hotter than surrounding rural communities. Indeed, most of the casualties associated with the '95 heatwave were elderly people living in Chicago.
Charles, MO Comments? Meanwhile, another developing large scale system will deliver a heavy rain and renewed flood threat to much of the East late Wednesday through Friday, which may impact travel. Some parts of northern Missouri had as much as 3 feet of snow on the ground. The negative charged particles extend down from the cloud in "steps" and form a step leader. A deadly combination of high temperature and humidity in the Midwest created stifling conditions that were unrelenting.
A large number of victims had no air conditioning and were afraid to open their windows for fear of crime. Their homes became virtual ovens. Other factors contributing to the high death toll were little preparation or warning of the impending heat wave, power failures, and inadequate hospital facilities with limited ambulance service. One lightning stoke can generate between million and 1 billion volts of electricity! While many people think they are aware of the dangers of lightning, the vast majority are not.
Lightning can strike as much as 10 miles away from the rain area of a thunderstorm; that's about the distance that you are able to hear the thunder from the storm. While virtually all people take some protective actions during the most dangerous part of thunderstorms, many leave themselves vulnerable to being struck by lightning as thunderstorms approach, depart, or are nearby. Although some victims are struck directly by the lightning discharge, many victims are struck as the current moves in and along the ground.
Where are people when lightning incidents occur? The chart below gives a breakdown. Months of Fatal Lightning Incidents. Remember, there is NO safe place outside in a thunderstorm. If you absolutely can't get to safety, this section may help you slightly lessen the threat of being struck by lightning while outside. Being stranded outdoors when lightning is striking nearby is a harrowing experience. Your first and only truly safe choice is to get to a safe building or vehicle. They will not prevent you from being struck by lightning, but may slightly lessen the odds. These actions may slightly reduce your risk of being struck by lightning: The best protection from lightning is a house or other substantial building.
However, stay away from windows, doors, and metal pipes. Turn off sensitive equipment such as televisions, VCR's, and computers. Do not make a call unless it is an emergency. Many people do not realize how deadly a heat wave can be. In contrast to the visible, destructive, and violent nature of floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes, a heat wave is a "silent killer".
In alone, Americans perished in heat waves, including in Illinois and 57 in Missouri.
Most heat-related deaths occur in cities. Brick and mortar buildings, asphalt streets, and tar roofs absorb daytime heat and slowly release it at night. Consequently, temperatures in urban areas can be warmer than rural areas by several degrees both day and night. Some basic comparisons done buy the staff at the NWS St. Louis has found that the temperature in the City of St. Louis often averages about 2 - 5 degrees higher than the temperature at Lambert St. In addition to the burden of heat, stagnant conditions often develop during heat waves, with pollutants increasing in concentration near the ground and contributing further to public health problems during heat waves.
The elderly population segment is the most vulnerable to the dangers of heat. Of the deaths that occurred in Chicago during the July , heat wave, 73 percent were age 65 or older. The elderly suffer due to the diminished ability to perspire. Since the function of perspiration is to provide evaporation, which in turn provides cooling, the elderly have a reduced capacity to release heat from the body.
Measuring the Combined Effects of Heat and Humidity. The National Weather Service uses the Heat Index HI to compute the "apparent temperature," which is a measure of how hot it feels to people at a certain combination of temperature and humidity. The heat index values used in forecasts, advisories, and warnings assume an average size adult, with light clothing, in the shade, with a 5 mile per hour wind.
Being in full sun, or in an area with little air movement, can increase the apparent temperature, and thus increase the risk for adverse effects from the heat and humidity. Winds greater than 5 miles per hour usually enhance evaporative cooling and decrease the apparent temperature and the health threat from the heat. As noted, the impacts of heat are cumulative over time. The greatest number of heat-induced illnesses and fatalities usually peak two days after the maximum heat index values occurred. The Heat Index Apparent Temperature can be found by taking the temperature number on the left and relative humidity value number at the top and matching them on this table.
For example, a temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 45 percent gives you a heat index of 93 degre es. Stop activity and rest in a cool place. Give sips of cool water. Get victim to a cool place. Apply cool, moist cloths. T emperature or higher. No sweating, rapid pulse, fast and shallow breathing. Hot, red, dry skin.
Nausea, dizziness, headache, confusion. Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency. Summon emergency assistance or get the victim to a hospital.
Delay can be fatal. Move the victim to a cooler environment. Use cool baths or sponging to reduce body temperature. If you must go out, use sunscreen and wear a wide-brimmed hat. Remember that sunburn reduces the skin's ability to provide cooling. Take frequent breaks if working during the heat of the day. Use air conditioning whenever available.
Even just two hours per day in air conditioning can significantly reduce the risk of heat-related illness.
Blow hot air out a window with a fan during the day, and blow in cooler air at night. Eat frequent, small meals. Avoid high protein foods, which increase metabolic heat. Fruits, vegetables, and salads constitute low protein meals. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach over degrees within minutes. Hydrology Rivers and Lakes.
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Summer Weather Safety Week Weather.
Climate and Past Weather. Excessive Heat and Lightning. The following is important safety information that can save peoples lives. Please help spread the word about e xcessive heat and lightning safety so everyone can have a safe summer.
Lightning and Excessive Heat. The following chart shows the fatalities for , along with 10 and 30 year averages. You can see that excessive heat deaths is the year average leader, just ahead of flood deaths.