Heat wave continues

This oppressive July keeps getting worse as our latest heat wave drags on. By definition a heat wave is three days of 90 degree plus temperatures. We have already accomplished that Monday through Wednesday. It will last through Friday if not Saturday before "cooler" air moves in behind a cold front and we return to more 80s for highs and 60s for lows. Today even coastal Connecticut has a heat advisory for heat index values of 100. The National Weather Service has a good summary of what to expect and how to deal with it:

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT
THURSDAY...

* LOCATIONS...COASTAL CONNECTICUT AND LONG ISLAND.

* HAZARDS...COMBINATION OF HIGH LEVELS OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY.

* HEAT INDEX VALUES...UP TO 100.

* TIMING...HIGHEST HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL OCCUR DURING THE
  AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS.

* IMPACTS...IF NO PROTECTIVE ACTION IS TAKEN...INITIAL IMPACTS
  INCLUDE FATIGUE. SUNSTROKE...MUSCLE CRAMPS...AND/OR HEAT
  EXHAUSTION ARE ALSO POSSIBLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HEAT ADVISORY IS ISSUED IF THE HEAT INDEX VALUES REACH 100 TO
104 DEGREES. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED
ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND
NEIGHBORS.

TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND
HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS
IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY
HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE
IS AN EMERGENCY...CALL 9 1 1.

Additionally there is an air quality alert for all coastal areas.

...AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM EDT THURSDAY...

THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
HAS ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES...

SOUTHERN FAIRFIELD...SOUTHERN MIDDLESEX...SOUTHERN NEW
HAVEN...SOUTHERN NEW LONDON.

IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 11 PM EDT THURSDAY.

AN AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY MEANS THAT GROUND LEVEL OZONE WITHIN THE
REGION MAY APPROACH OR EXCEED UNHEALTHY STANDARDS. FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION...

PLEASE VISIT THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.CT.GOV/DEEP/AQI

 
This is not a time to be monitoring for your own safety as well as that of all of the birds, chicks, and eggs unless you are doing so in the extremely early morning or very late evening. Please take the time off, relax, and stay cool!


Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.