It’s going to be a very hot week and Labor Day weekend. That’s according to the National Weather Service in Jackson. Forecasters said temperatures will reach highs in the mid-90’s, but the heat indices will be close to 100 for most of Eastern Kentucky through Friday. Ed Ray is a Meteorologist for the NWS. He said the hottest temperatures will be felt Wednesday at around 98.
Ray added that a relatively high dewpoint will make it feel even hotter. He said during this weather the safety of pets and children is paramount.
“One of the important things to remember is you don’t want to leave your pets or children in the car. It doesn’t take any time at all for heat to impact animals or children in a car. Especially if the windows are rolled up, or even if they’re cracked it can still get very warm in there. You just want to be conscious of that,” said Ray.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 29 children died last year from heat stroke in cars. NHTSA officials added anyone who sees a child alone in a locked car should act immediately and call 911.
Ray said during this heat wave people should avoid being outside if possible. He said if staying indoors is not possible, safety precautions must be taken.
“You do not want to be outside working in these high stress conditions unless you have to. And when you do, you want to wear loose light clothing, you want to take frequent breaks, you want to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Because you don’t want to get dehydrated,” Ray said.
He added that anyone who starts to feel dizzy, exhausted, or anxious while working outside in the heat should go somewhere cool and seek medical help. The weather service predicts there will be a chance for rain and storms later this week. Ray said that the rain is needed because high temperatures could lead to drought conditions in eastern Kentucky. The US Drought Monitor already lists some of those areas as abnormally dry or under a moderate drought.
The hazardous weather outlook for the region is in effect throughout this week and ends Sunday evening. Ray said this weekend is going to remain hot, even with the chance of showers. He said the high temperatures may last into next week, potentially cooling down to around the low 80s by next Tuesday.