Stay Cool: Potentially Dangerous Heat Index Values in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Take extra precautions Tuesday, August 10, 2021, because the temperatures will become excessively hot. The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a Heat Advisory starting at 11 a.m. and ending at Wednesday August, 11, 2021 at 9 p.m.

The major concern is that heat index values could reach up to 107 degrees. Those types of temperatures could lead to heat-related illnesses. I encourage you to stay aware of how long you are exposed to the heat today and take extra steps to protect yourself.

Here are some hot weather safety tips to help you out:

(1) Understanding the difference between a heat outlook, heat watches, and heat warnings.

(2) Understanding heat-related illnesses like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat rash.  Be sure to know the signs.

(3) Staying hydrated

(4) Avoid dehydrating liquids like alcohol, coffee, tea, and caffeinated drinks.

(5) Stay in cool areas, like air-conditioning places.

(6) Wear protective clothing that is lightweight, light-colored, and loose-fitting.

(7) Avoid sunburns.  Be sure to wear sunscreen.

(8) Please don’t overdo it in hot temperatures.

(9) Be sure to take breaks if you must work outside.

10) Limit Outdoor Activities.

These very hot temperatures in combination with high humidity have the potential to cause heat-related illnesses.  Here are all the counties affected by the heat advisory:

Autauga

Barbour

Bibb

Bullock

Chilton

Coosa

Dallas

Elmore

Fayette

Greene

Hale

Jefferson

Lamar

Lowndes

Macon

Marengo

Montgomery

Perry

Pickens

Pike

Russell

Shelby

Sumter

Talladega

Tallapoosa

Tuscaloosa

Walker

Winston

James Spann, ABC 33/40, and Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa Chief Meteorologist, reminds us that “Alabama's weather won't change much for the rest of the week. Look for partly sunny, hot, humid days with random, scattered showers and thunderstorms around each day, mostly between 1:00 and 10:00 p.m. The chance of anyone neighborhood seeing rain each afternoon will be in the 30-40 percent range, and afternoon highs will be in the 90-93 degree range. Just what you expect in mid-August.”

(Source) Click here to follow the Facebook Page for James Spann. For more from the National Weather Service Birmingham, click here.