The Glass Animals warned us about this June weather! As the band famously quips about “Heat Waves” in their record-setting chart topper of a single, and while the song is catchy the current heat wave isn’t as much fun. While we had a surprisingly cool May and most of June, Alabama was always bound to see some scorching days during the summer months. It seems that the weather is making up for lost time with a stretch of days that will be approaching and occasionally surpassing 100 degrees. That’s without mentioning the humidity and “feels like” temperature. A good bit of outside events planned for the weekend have already been canceled due to how hot it will be. While we can’t control the weather, we can protect ourselves from overheating during this blistering days. Here are a few things to keep in mind during this current heat wave.
Stay Inside During Peak Heat Hours
Many jobs and situations require us to be outside, but during these ridiculously hot days we need to try to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun as much as possible. This is especially true during the noon to afternoon hours when the temperature reaches its peak. Birmingham has multiple cooling stations open this week for those who need them. They are at Church of the Reconciler, Faith Chapel Care Center, The Hub/El Centro, Ross Recovery, and Pathways. Please help share this information with those who may need it!
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
The sweat that comes with hot weather doesn’t just make us uncomfortable - the water loss that comes with it can be dangerous! Often we don’t realize how dehydrated we’ve become until it’s too late and a heat stroke or similar illness occurs. Make sure to have water on you, especially while outside, and keep drinking throughout the day.
Look Out For Each Other
Extreme weather is a crucial time for communities to come together. Thankfully Birminghamians tend to always lean into supporting their neighbors, but we will need to go the extra mile over the next few days. Keeping water, little fans, or other cooling items in the car to share with those who are spending these days outside goes a long way in keeping people safe. Keep the cooling areas in mind as well for those who are seeking them.
It’s going to be a toasty weekend Birmingham, but it can still be safe and fun! Don’t sweat it too bad by following these tips.
Cover image from Pixabay
