Throughout the region, the heat is on

Bernard Baker
and Denice Thibodeau
Published: July 22, 2008

You think it’s hot now, you should must have forgotten how steamy it was during June. Jeff Haniewich, a Storm Team 10 meteorologist with WSLS in Roanoke, said the truth is in the numbers.

How hot was it?
There were eight straight days from June 4-11 where the high was 90 or above in Danville, Haniewich said. Add on to that the second heat wave later in the month where it was from 90 degrees or higher from June 23-29.
“So June was hotter than July, even though we are in the middle of a heat wave,” Haniewich said.
This week’s heat wave has seen five days of temperatures that are 90 degrees of higher. It topped off at 99 degrees Monday.

How do I stay cool?
The professionals have their own techniques for beating the heat.
“Lots of water and Gatorade,” said Roger Van Liew, who is part of a crew working on road improvements to Piney Forest Road and Franklin Turnpike. “That’s about it.”
Other construction workers at the site had their own sage advice.
“Sitting in the truck with the A/C on as much as possible and drinking lots of water,” Kerry Gavitt, who inspecting the job for the Virginia Department of Transportation, said Tuesday afternoon. “You get out and check what you need to, and get back in the truck as soon as you can.”
“We’re fighting the heat here every day,” worker Bill Nunn said, as he sipped on a cup of iced tea. “It’s not too bad if you set your pace.”
How about us amateurs who want to stay cool? Stay in air conditioning. Wear light-colored clothes that are loose fitting. Drink lots of water and don’t stay out long in the oppressive heat.
“The good news is we should start to cool down later this week a bit, with lower humidity, too,” Haniewich said.

How do we get heat waves?
“Sometimes we get heat waves due to the fact that as high pressure shifts to the east, a southwest flow throws lots of heat and humidity back at us,” Haniewich said. “So if we see lots of heat in the middle part of our country (like we have lately) and we are under the influence of a high, then eventually that oppressive weather is thrown in our direction.”

Need a way to stay to beat back the heat?
The Southern Area Agency on Aging is trying to help seniors during the summer heat.
They have a “very limited” number of fans and air conditioners available to seniors 60 and older, according to a news release. Call Gloria Roberts at (800) 468-4571 for more information.