National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists issued warnings across three southern states on Monday, advising that certain types of clothing might help manage symptoms from high heat.
High heat has plagued much of the southern U.S. this spring, with summerlike temperatures felt across parts of the nation multiple times this month. This week, the high heat is worse in the South, prompting heat advisory warnings in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Florida also is experiencing high temperatures. Some parts of Texas were also under an excessive heat warning.
NWS offices in Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas urged people to take precautions while outside.
“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the warning said. “Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”
In Jackson, Mississippi, the heat advisory will remain in place until 6 p.m. local time on Monday. Heat index values were forecast to reach up to 110 degrees.
“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses,” the advisory said.
In Texas, meteorologists suggested taking precautions, including wearing proper clothing, in multiple areas including Brownsville, Houston, Galveston, Fort Worth and Corpus Christi. Similar warnings were issued in New Orleans and Lake Charles in Louisiana.
Newsweek reached out to the NWS office in Houston by phone for comment. Heat-related impacts are expected to lessen in Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida as the week goes on, but the NWS HeatRisk index forecasts that some of southern Texas will continue to experience major and extreme impacts through the weekend.
The latest the advisories are expected to remain in place is 8 p.m., with some expiring sooner than that.
The NWS HeatRisk index, a map that provides a forecast of heat-related impacts over the next 24 hours, showed that the most severe heat-related impacts were expected in southern Texas.
The index revealed that “extreme impacts” were being felt in the southern half of Texas.
“This level of rare and/or long-duration extreme heat with little to no overnight relief affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts likely in most health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure,” NWS HeatRisk said of the extreme impacts.
“Major impacts” were felt over a much more widespread area, including in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.
When it comes to managing heat-related impacts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also suggests wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. The CDC estimates that there are an average of 702 heat-related deaths each year in the United States.
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