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Buncombe County issued a heat health alert Tuesday, and many counties across the state have also raised alert as the heat index soars into the upper 90s and triple digits. High humidity is making this heat wave particularly potent.
A heat wave is defined as above-average seasonal temps lasting more than two consecutive days.
We’re forecast to cool down by the end of the week, but in the meantime, here are some tips on how to stay cool and safe.
Stay safe in this heat by:
- Drinking lots of water
- Wearing light-colored clothing
- Keep yourself, children, and pets in air-conditioned buildings or in the shade
- Never leave kids or a pet unattended in a car
- Reduce outdoor activities as much as possible.
In your home, you can save electricity in a number of ways. According to Duke Energy, powering air conditioners strains the grid during heat waves, and you can help your community avoid that strain by running heat-producing appliances in cool hours, closing curtains and blinds on the sunny side of your home, setting your thermostat to the highest comfortable setting, and using cooler water for washing clothes.
When should I seek help?
Heat waves are deadly, and heat illness can sneak up on you. Outdoor workers, pregnant women, the elderly, children, people with disabilities, pets, and people who are on certain antidepressant and antipsychotic medications are particularly vulnerable. Here’s how to recognize the signs of heat illness:
Heat exhaustion can look like headache, fatigue, nausea, or weakness. If you have any of these symptoms, get out of the sun, and go somewhere with A/C. Even better, hop in a cold shower or press a wet cloth to your forehead and neck - anything to get your body temperature down quickly.
If not taken care of, these symptoms can progress to heatstroke, which can be deadly. Symptoms of heatstroke include unconsciousness, hot, dry skin, confusion and dizziness. In this case, it’s time to go to the hospital or call 911.
What if I don’t have A/C?
In Buncombe County, public libraries are open and available to use as cooling centers during normal business hours. Library cardholders can also use ZOOM passes to get into county pools for free.
For some of our most vulnerable residents - elderly folks and people with disabilities - the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Aging is partnering with the N.C. Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers to distribute fans through Operation Fan Heat Relief from May 1 through October 31.
If you’re age 60 and older or you’re an adult with a disability, you’re eligible. For more information, you can contact the Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Inc. at 828-277-8288.
This heat wave seems unusual. Is it connected to climate change?
According to Kathie Dello, the N.C. state climatologist, the answer is - in short - yes. This is shaping up to be Asheville’s second-hottest July on record, and we still have a few days to go.
According to Dello, nighttime temperatures have soared alongside daytime temperatures. Asheville has seen seven nights over 70 degrees in July. Normally, there is only one or two of those per year. Hot nights take away our ability to cool down and recover from a hot day, and also can impact crops, native plants, and wildlife, all of which need that recovery time called “chill hours,” according to Dello.
Tree canopy loss from Helene could also be making things hotter on the ground. Heat also allows the air to hold more moisture, which could lead to heavy rainfall, while increasing the wildfire risk later in the year.
“With the rain we’ve been seeing, we’re seeing green-ups around the mountains, which could provide a lot of fuel for the fall fire season,” she said.
And while we’re seeing cooler temperatures toward the end of the week, the long-term looks a lot like this week - so it’s a good time to prepare and think about long-term planning to avoid exposure to dangerous heat in the future.
“This’ll probably be one of the cooler summers of the rest of our lives,” Dello said.
