Dangerous heat expected in coming week

Summer has officially started, and local residents will be feeling the heat in the coming weeks, according to the National Weather Service.

Meteorologist Aaron Davis said that within the next couple weeks, Union County will probably be placed under heat advisories and excessive heat warnings as temperatures and humidity rise.

“It’s about to get hot. Summer is getting ready to officially make its presence known,” Davis said.

Early forecasts predict that next weekend, daytime temperatures will reach the upper 90s, Davis said, though he said humidity won’t be as high as it could be.

“If this maintains course… this is definitely looking like potential for heat advisory and excessive heat warning criteria,” he said.

High temperatures, especially when coupled with high humidity, can be deadly. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, there are an average of 702 heat-related deaths in the U.S. each year, along with 67,512 heat-related emergency room visits.

In 2019, a former Razorback football player, Mitch Petrus, died at 32-years-old due to heatstroke. More than 150 Arkansans died due to heat related illness between 1999 and 2017, according to federal mortality data.

Davis said it’s important for those working outside to be conscious of the heat.

“If you’re working outside, if you’ve got yard work – I mean, it’s summer, everybody’s outside all the time –, if you’re doing physical activity, it’s very important to take frequent breaks, have a designated place to cool off,” he said. “Get inside, out of the heat.”

Staying hydrated is equally important, and water is always the first best choice for a cooling drink. Davis said non-sugary sports drinks, like Gatorade, are also good options since they can help replenish electrolytes lost through sweat.

“And of course, just taking it easy. In this kind of heat, it’s always a good idea to relax,” he said.

The CDC also recommends wearing loose, lightweight clothing on hot days; checking on friends and neighbors to ensure their safety; and pacing oneself during outside activity. Also, never leave children or pets in a closed car.

Temperatures are expected to remain in the low 90s through Saturday, before reaching the upper 90s this Sunday, when the NWS forecasts a high of 99 degrees. Nighttime temperatures will be in the mid-70s, according to the NWS.