When we think of weather situations that injure or even kill, we tend to think of tornadoes, snowstorms, and other violent weather. But heat is the top weather-related killer in America. Older people, the sick, and the very young are most vulnerable to extreme heat.

During this time of extreme heat, the best way to stay cool and safe is to spend as much time as possible in the air conditioning. Keep your body hydrated by drinking a lot of water or sports drinks. Be sure to check on older friends and relatives and never leave a child or pet unattended in a parked car.

During these times of extreme heat, we use some specific terms to help describe the conditions we might face. One of the terms used is dew point. It’s a measurement of the temperature at which the air would become saturated (dew or fog forms)…if the actual air temperature would drop to that dew point. Now if that sounds a little complicated, just remember that when the dew point hits 70°, that’s humid. When it hits 75° or more…that’s tropical humidity! Here’s a chart to help you remember:

Dew Point And How Humid it Feels

• Below 55    Dry (Pleasant)
• 55-60    Hint of humidity (Still comfortable)
• 60-65    Still not bad (Tolerable)
• 65-70    Noticeably Sticky (Becoming unpleasant)
• 70-75    Muggy (Uh-oh!)
• Above 75    Absolutely Sultry (Oppressive and unbearable)

The heat index measures the apparent temperature (the “feels like”temperature) when the dew point is factored into the air temperature. Higher humidity (dew point) at the same temperature means a higher heat index.

The EPA has a great list of tips to stay safe in the heat…even the kind of extreme heat that we’ll continue to see into the weekend. Temperatures are likely to be around 100° Friday, 98° Saturday, 96° Sunday, then dropping off a bit for Monday and beyond.