Yesterday felt like a shotgun wedding of Arizona heat and Florida humidity. The worst of both worlds. Saudi Arabia with lakes.
A single day of extreme heat is one thing. But when a heat wave goes on for days or weeks, the results are cumulative, health impacts worsen over time. And research shows it's not so much the daytime highs but the nighttime lows that can lead to trouble. If people can't get any relief at night, health risks multiply.
The urban heat island makes things worse: Asphalt and concrete retain heat, prolonging swampy misery into the overnight hours. People suffering from chronic illnesses and the elderly are most at risk.
If anyone asks, 2012 brought two days above 100F; 1988 brought four 100-degree days. Severe heat is magnified when dew points are this high, making it feel like Dubai.
Any peaceful, easy feeling at tonight's Eagles concert may be interrupted by boisterous T-storms. At any outdoor venue stay weather-aware; always have a Plan B.
