Monday was just the beginning.
Dangerous heat and humidity will linger in Berks County, with an extreme heat warning running through Wednesday at 8 p.m.
The extreme conditions are courtesy of a heat dome over the East Coast that originated in the Plains and Midwest, AccuWeather said.
“Dangerous heat will maximize across much of the Northeast and mid-Atlantic early this week,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Jacob Hinson said on the website. “Bright sun and humid conditions will cause AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures to peak above 100 degrees for millions.”
AccuWeather’s forecast for Berks:
• Tuesday: Very hot and very humid with hazy sunshine; stay hydrated with temperatures remaining dangerously high; high, 99; RealFeel, 106; low, 73.
• Wednesday: Hot and humid with clouds and sun; an afternoon thunderstorm in parts of the area; storms can bring flooding downpours and localized damaging wind gusts; high, 93; Realfeel, 102; low, 75.
• Thursday: Intervals of clouds and sunshine with a thunderstorm; humid; high, 91; Realfeel, 104; low, 69.
• Friday: Not as warm but humid with a couple of showers and a thunderstorm, mainly later; cloudy in the morning, then times of clouds and sun in the afternoon; high, 81; Realfeel, 86; low, 69.
• Saturday: Humid with times of clouds and sun; an afternoon thunderstorm; high, 85; Realfeel, 92; low, 71.
• Sunday: A thunderstorm in parts of the area in the morning; otherwise, partly sunny and humid; high, 83; Realfeel, 95; low, 71.
Dealing with the heat
The American Red Cross advises staying hydrated during extreme heat by drinking plenty of fluids. Replace salt and minerals with snacks or a sports drink.
Stay cool by staying in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to a public places with air conditioning such as libraries or shopping malls.
Wear lightweight, loose clothing and take cool showers or baths.
Limit your outdoor activity. If you must work outdoors, schedule tasks earlier or later in the day.
Check on your friends, family and neighbors. Anyone can develop heat illness, but people at greater risk are older adults; infants, children and pregnant women; people with medical conditions; outdoor workers; people with limited personal resources; and people living in places that lack green spaces.
Heat-related conditions
Here’s how to recognize and respond to them.
Heat cramps
• Muscle spasms caused by a large loss of salt and water in the body.
Signs
• Heavy sweating with muscle pain or spasms
What to do
• Move to a cool place.
• Drink water or a sports drink.
• Get medical help right away if cramps last longer than 1 hour or person affected has heart problem.
Heat Exhaustion
• Severe and may require emergency medical treatment.
Signs
• Heavy sweating
• Cold, pale and clammy skin
• Fast, weak pulse
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle cramps
•Tiredness or weakness
• Dizziness, headache, passing out
What to do
• Move to a cool place
• Loosen tight clothing• Cool the body using wet cloths, misting, fanning, or a cool bath
• Sip water slowly
• Get medical help right away if vomiting occurs; symptoms last longer than 1 hour or get worse; confusion develops
Heat Stroke
• Deadly and requires emergency medical treatment.
Signs
• High body temperature (104° or higher)
• Hot, red, dry or damp skin
• Fast, strong pulse
• Headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, passing out
What to do
• Call 911 right away, then move to a cool place
• Cool the body using wet cloths, misting, fanning, or a cool bath
• Do not give the person anything to drink
At home
Met-Ed parent FirstEnergy Corp. is providing practical tips to stay cool, comfortable and in control of your energy costs.
“When the weather heats up, it’s easy for energy use to climb,” Wade Smith, president of FirstEnergy Utilities, said in a release. “With a few simple steps, customers can control their comfort without spending more than they need to.”
Here are 10 easy ways to keep cool and cut costs this summer:
• Boost airflow with ceiling or box fans to reduce AC use.
• Use window AC units only when rooms are occupied.
• Set thermostats as high as comfort allows.
• Block the sun by keeping blinds and curtains closed during daylight hours.
• Close vents and doors to rooms not being used.
• Delay chores like laundry, dishwashing and cooking until early morning or late evening.
• Grill outdoors instead of heating up your kitchen.
• Unplug electronics and chargers when not in use.
• Choose Energy Star appliances and HVAC systems when upgrading.
• Clean or replace HVAC filters regularly.
Visit firstenergycorp.com/saveenergy for tools and programs to help you take control of your energy use.
Need help with your bill? Explore bill assistance programs and budget billing options that help manage monthly costs at firstenergycorp.com/billassist.
Source: Berkshire mont