...According to Heat.gov, the government’s heat portal, 108 million people are under heat alerts.
Heat indexes, a metric that gauges how much stress the heat and humidity will place on the human body, will be downright dangerous in many spots. Excessive-heat warnings blanket much of California, southern Nevada, western Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma, while heat advisories cover the surrounding areas, as well as part of Florida.
“Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities,” wrote the National Weather Service in Dallas.
Across the Southwest, meteorologists are warning that the heat risk is “extreme” and could have dire consequences, such as an “increase in heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.” Heat stroke can quickly prove fatal. Excessive heat kills far more Americans annually than do hurricanes and tornadoes combined and disproportionately affects the elderly, the poor and other systemically vulnerable populations.
No comments:
Post a Comment