Dangerous heat wave in Virginia stretches into the weekend
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
/2024/06/20/1718910805940.gif?w=3840)
Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
We wish we weren't back with more heat wave news, but all of Virginia is facing moderate to extreme heat risk this weekend.
Why it matters: These are dangerously high levels of heat that can affect anyone without proper hydration or access to AC, which can mean increases in heat-related ER visits.
The big picture: That's according to the National Weather Service's HeatRisk tool, which provides a forecast risk of heat-related impacts.
- The worst of it will be on Sunday, which has a high near 100°F.
- Eric Seymour, a meteorologist for the NWS Wakefield office in Virginia, tells Axios it could feel like 105 or higher to the human body.
- That's the range in which the NWS would consider issuing heat advisories, which are used when conditions can be life-threatening.
Zoom in: The Richmond area is seeing temperatures that are between 5 and 10 degrees above what's usually normal this time of year, Seymour said.
Why that's dangerous: This is the first extreme heat wave of the season, which means our bodies haven't acclimated to the heat.
- The temperatures are in the mid-to-upper 90s, and the humidity is an additional stress to the body.
- Plus, human-caused climate change is making heat waves more likely, more intense and longer-lasting, which can escalate health risks, lead to power outages, slow railways and melt airport tarmacs.
Seymour's safety recommendations:
- If you have AC, use it.
- Stay in the shade and keep hydrated.
- Limit alcohol or caffeinated beverages, which can dehydrate you.
- Limit outdoor activities to when temperatures are cooler (earlier in the day or at night).
Yes, but: "For most of us who have access to air conditioning and things like that, it's kind of easy to get through this type of event," Seymour said.
- "But for folks that don't have access to those things, this can be a little bit more critical and impactful for them."
For a break from the heat: All GRTC buses have AC.
- Richmond has two cooling stations with water and AC at 900 E. Marshall St. and 4100 Hull St. from 11am-6pm Monday through Saturday this week.
- Richmond Public Libraries. Check out their hours here.
What's next: There's potential for rain early next week, which Seymour says could temporarily knock the temperatures down, but then it's forecasted to shoot back up to a high near 98 on Wednesday.
Go deeper: