Community Corner

Alexandria Weather: Temperatures Near 100 This Week

While a "heat dome" keeps temperatures above 90, here's information on heat stroke and heat exhaustion, swimming and keeping pets, kids and elderly residents safe.

by Beth Lawton and Jessie Biele

Break out your water bottles, because this week is going to be a scorcher. Alexandria is under a heat advisory Tuesday afternoon. 

The Alexandria-area forecast this week calls for temperatures between 90 – 100 degrees during the days with heat indices even higher. According to the Capital Weather Gang, this surge in temperatures is occurring due to a large heat dome moving into the region.

What is a heat dome, anyway? According to National Weather Service meteorologist Eli Jacks, a heat dome is a combination of hot summer weather exacerbated by cloudless skies and the sun's higher angle during the summer.

"When a high pressure system develops in the upper atmosphere, the air below it sinks and compresses because there's more weight on top, causing temperatures in the lower atmosphere to heat up," Jacks told the Associated Press.

Heat Exposure and Heat Illness

If you'll be spending time outdoors this week, you'll want to take steps to avoid heat exhaustionheat stroke, and other issues related to excessive heat exposure. 

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People and pets are both at risk this week for sickness due to extreme heat. Sadly, earlier this month two babies died after being left in hot cars. This weekend, a woman in Centreville was charged after leaving her dog in a hot car.

Small children’s bodies can heat up faster than adults’ bodies, leaving them more susceptible to heat-related health problems. The elderly also have a harder time cooling themselves down, so be sure to keep a close eye on them. Pets also do not cool themselves as efficiently as humans.

Find out what's happening in Del Raywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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Excessive heat exposure can cause several health problems including heat cramps, which are painful spasms of your arm, leg and/or abdomen muscles, says Patient First, a primary and urgent care center with five locations in Northern Virginia. 

People experiencing these symptoms should rest in a cool place and drink water or fluids containing electrolytes.

Heat exhaustion symptoms include profuse sweating, headache, dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, skin that feels cool and moist, and muscle cramps.  

If you or someone you know are experiencing these symptoms, move him or her to a cooler location, apply cool wet cloths to their body, and give them cool water to drink. If the person vomits or refuses to drink, call 911.

Follow these tips to avoid heat-related illnesses:

·       Wear appropriate lightweight clothing.

·       Drink water throughout the day.

·       Avoid strenuous outdoor activity on hot days.

·       Take frequent breaks in a cool place.


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