Earlier in the week, parts of Texas posted the highest mark of oppressive heat. Some cities, such as San Antonio, Lufkin, and Victoria, set records for low, warm temperatures, and some failed to drop below 80 degrees even at night.
When little relief is found overnight, conditions lend themselves to dangerously high temperatures the next day.
The seriousness of excessive heat cannot be overstated. Although hurricanes and tornadoes gain the most notoriety in the climate world, many are surprised to learn that it is heat that kills the climate.
Heat warnings are in effect for more than 22 million Americans from Missouri to Texas, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.
The air that gushes in from the Gulf of Mexico will cause Dallas to reach a heat index, which it will feel once humidity is taken into account, at 110 degrees on both Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
Fortunately, the human body has beautifully evolved to combat excessive heat. Sweating plays a key role in cooling your body temperature to a safe level.
However, this process is significantly hampered when the humidity is so high that sweat does not evaporate effectively.
That will be the case in cities like Dallas, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa in Oklahoma, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Wichita, Kansas, over the next few days.
Some valuable ways to combat oppressive heat are through proper clothing, food choices, hydration, and skin protection.
Try to drink about half your body weight in fluid ounces. Therefore, a 150-pound person should drink approximately 75 fluid ounces per day.
Avoid alcohol for the same reasons that you should avoid protein-rich foods during a heat wave, as they reduce your body’s natural ability to cool off.
A sunburn also significantly reduces your body’s ability to cool itself off efficiently.
Choose loose clothing to improve breathability. Opt for a lighter colored outfit, as it will reflect and not absorb the energy of the sun, which translates into heat.
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