Forecasters say extreme heat and humidity are expected this weekend. And that could pose serious health problems for those susceptible to heat-related illnesses.
The high temperature for Friday and Saturday is forecast to be 96 and then 97 on Sunday. But the heat index, or “feels like” temperature for the three days, could reach between 105 and 110 degrees, WCSC Chief Meteorologist Bill Walsh said.
According to the National Weather Service, heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the U.S. Young children and infants are particularly vulnerable, as their bodies are less able to adapt to extreme temperatures. Older adults, particularly those with pre-existing medical diseases or who take certain medications can also be susceptible.
A continually expanding heat dome is spreading “anomalously hot summer weather” from Arizona to Florida, threatening to break heat records in several states. The high temperatures are posing threats to coral and other marine life off Florida’s coast.
The heat is in part due to the planet entering a natural climate phenomenon known as El Niño, which typically brings warmer oceans. But now, El Niño is coming on top of long-term warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions.
“Florida is one patch in a terrible quilt right now,” Dillon Amaya, a physical scientist at NOAA said in a New York Times report.
Amid the high temperatures, remember it is never safe to leave a child, disabled person or pet locked in a car, especially during periods of extreme heat. A reported 33 children died in hot cars in South Carolina in 2022.
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- To get dozens of South Carolina news stories every business day, contact the folks at SC Clips.
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