Heat index of 130 yesterday in Iowa. More to come. Yikes!!!

[dixiegrrrrl]

From Jeff Master's blog today:

A heat index over 130°F, such as was observed yesterday in Iowa, is very rare in the U.S., and extremely dangerous.

According to Christopher C. Burt, wunderground's weather historian, the only place in the world where a heat index over 130°F is common is along the shores of the Red Sea in the Middle East.

A major reason for the remarkably high humidities accompanying the July 2011 Midwest heat wave is the record flooding the region experienced over the past three months. As pointed out by wunderground's climate change blogger Dr. Ricky Rood in his latest post, with hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland still inundated by flood waters, and soils saturated over much of the Upper Midwest, there has been plenty of water available to evaporate into the air and cause remarkably high humdities. This makes for a very dangerous situation, as the human body is not able to cool itself as efficiently when the humidity is high. The extreme heat will last through Sunday in the mid-Atlantic, but should end on Monday, when a cold front is expected to sweep across the region.

However, the latest models suggest the heat will re-amplify over the Midwest next week.

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/comment.html?entrynum=1850

How are y'all holding up in the heat belt this week?????

[electropop]

1. Good thing we have plenty of "clean coal" to run all the air conditioners...

...because the more of it we burn, the more we warm the planet, and the more we're gonna need AC...

[meegbear]

2. As long as homosexuals are allowed to have abortions in public schools these things are gonna happen

Ask any televangelist.

[electropop]

3. hey, don't ask, don't televangelist.

[SidDithers]

4. Wow. I thought we had it bad with heat index at 115...

130 is fucking insane. Get cool however you can.

Sid

[MiniMe]

5. Bachman must have been in Iowa

[Peacetrain]

6. eight o'clock last night.. heat index was still 116..

hot and humid

[SpiralHawk]

"re-aplify" next week...Holy Shit. You mean Rush DraftDodger Limbaugh (R) has been lying

to Americans about global climate change?

Freakin Republicons liars.

[Seedersandleechers]

7. I'm just south of you in Kansas City.

Heat index has been around 110, but have yet to run my ac. Actually, it's very comfortable with just a fan. :hi:


on edit: I live in a vintage 1920's speakeasy in the basement of a 4 story building.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. to clarify, I am in Alabama. Saw this blog and was stunned.

Have friends in Iowa, just emailed them.

[lonestarnot]

9. Wow. Eggs at the helm.

[madrchsod]

10. i used to work in this heat in a steel forging shop and a steel mill

i had to wear long underwear and have really large fans to keep cool.those days are long ago.

today i stay inside my air conditioned home and wonder how i`m going to pay the electric bill.

[progressoid]

11. Keeping my house at 84.

And in comparison to outside, it feels like a refrigerator in here.

[elocs]

12. I got to admit that here in La Crosse, WI am in sitting in my recliner with a fan blowing on me

and the heat index is 105 and I'm not uncomfortable at all. Of course not moving helps a lot.

[thelordofhell]

13. Helpful hints from the desert in Arizona

1. Stay hydrated.......always have some water close by and drink it. When you start to feel dehydrated, it means you've been dehydrated for a while already.

2. Bananas.......Eat 1 for dinner, leg cramps are common when you're not acclimated to living in the heat. Bananas are good to stop cramping from happening.

3. Multi-vitamins.......you don't just lose water in the heat, you lose body nutrients. A good multi-vitamin will keep you healthy. Also recommend electrolyte sports drinks or even Pediasure for supplementation.

4. Eat lite.......a large meal will raise your body temperature, better to eat in small repasts than one large meal.

[Uncle Joe]

14. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, dixiegrrrrl.

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. I cannot even imagine heat index that high, Joe. Boggles the mind.

We had our hot spell here most of the past 30 days.

fortunately, it was a rare ( for here) dry heat, too little humidity.

Box fans were a lifesaver. 75 degrees in the house felt almost cold after 100 in the shade outside.

Today it is low 90's and feels comfortable in the house with no A/C.

[Uncle Joe]

17. It does boggle the mind, dixiegrrrl, Iowa of all places!

It sounds more like Death Valley.

I hope the good people of Iowa can find a way to stay cool.

[JesterCS]

15. about 115 degrees here with heat index SW Ohio n/t