Hot, humid weather expected to continue today

Local heat index reaches 110 at Wright-Patt

Many Dayton-area residents sweltered through another day as hot, humid weather enveloped portions of the Midwest and South. Authorities issued heat advisories for 15 states, including Ohio, and those advisories will remain in effect today.

The National Weather service said the temperature reached 95 Monday, while the local heat index — a combination of the temperature and humidity — reached 110 degrees at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Weather service spokesman Chris Vaccaro said some part of the country felt as hot as 115 with the humidity.

WHIO-TV Chief Meteorologist Jamie Simpson said Monday’s high was the highest recorded temperature at the Dayton International Airport since Aug. 9, 2007.

Oklahoma City has hit 100 degrees or higher every day since June 29. Dallas also was on track to record its 10th day of 100-degree weather.

Local hospitals reported a small increase in heat-related injuries, but credited residents with making good decisions.

“I would say the public has stayed safe,” said Bob Jackson, spokesman for the Kettering Health Network hospitals.

“We’ve only had a couple of heat-related illnesses as a result of people not having air conditioning in their homes,” said Nancy Thickel, spokeswoman for Miami Valley Hospital.

She said people without home air conditioning and those with respiratory illness are particularly susceptible in the high heat, and advised people to wear light clothing, stay indoors, keep air conditioning running and drink lots of water, especially when humidity is high.

“People need to pay attention to the warnings,” Thickel said, “And if you know an older adult that does not live with you, then you need to check on them.”

Excessive heat is extremely hazardous to human health. Heat disorders can develop when the body heats too quickly, or when a person loses too much fluid or salt by sweating or dehydration.

Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, pale and clammy skin, weak pulse, fainting and vomiting.

Dayton Power & Light spokeswoman Emily Gray said electricity demand Monday remained below the record from August 2007 — 3,270 megawatts.

“They definitely plan for these events and have extra power in store,” Gray said.

Ozone and particulate matter should not pose a problem this week, said Brian Huxtable, a forecaster with the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency.

The weather service predicts today will be humid with a high around 90 and 10-to-15 mph winds, before cooling off into the 60s tonight. Wednesday will be sunny and cooler with a high temperature in the low 80s.

Simpson said today will be very hot and humid again, but not quite as uncomfortable as Monday.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2206 or tnavera@Dayton DailyNews.com.

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