Amber Esparza
Arts, Culture & Entertainment Editor
Keith White, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s office in New Braunfels, said it will be “consistently hot” in San Antonio for the next week with temperatures reaching between 103 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit, well above normal for this time of the year in south-central Texas.
The high temperature is typically about 95 degrees right now, “we are significantly warmer than that,” White said in an interview July 13.
White advised to be aware of heat indexes, which take into account the temperature and amount of moisture in the air.
“That has implications on how the human body is able to cool off. If it’s humid, you are not evaporating sweat as readily so those high temperatures have a worse impact on one’s health,” White said. “The more humid it is, the higher the heat index.”
White said those heat indexes could reach up to 110 degrees in the next few days.
“This type of heat can be very dangerous to human health. People who spend a lot of time outdoors in this kind of humidity can experience heat-related illnesses like heat stroke which can lead to fatalities,” White said.
White advised limiting outdoor activity in the afternoon and evenings, when it is hottest outside, “but if you must be outside, make sure to stay hydrated, wearing light colors and loose fitting clothes, and take frequent breaks from the sun, preferably in the AC, to allow your body temperature to drop back down.”
White also said to be aware of the signs of heat-related illnesses and to take action immediately if you or someone begins to experience symptoms.
For updates on excessive heat warnings and heat advisories, visit the National Weather Service website at https://www.weather.gov/ewx/.
