CLEVELAND, Miss.–You should be taking heat precautions this week, says the National Weather Service. With high temperatures in the mid 90s in the Delta and heat indices near or at 105, you could begin to see signs of heat stress and heat exhaustion if you are out in the heat for too long.
National Weather Service forecaster Mike Edmunston said Sunday that you could reasonably expect to see a heat advisory issued for counties in the western half of the state beginning Monday and stretching through much of the week.
“What’s really the factor is how much humidity you have and we’re going to get a very moist tropical air mass settle in over here,” he said.
The humidity is the factor that not only determines whether a heat advisory is issued, but also is what drains the body of its water content quicker.
“Looks like that magic 105, the heat index value of 105, studies have shown that’s the temperature at which the body begins to succumb to heat stress-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion.”
His advice is to stay hydrated, stay out of the heat if you can, take plenty of breaks and wear light-colored clothing.
Edmunston said rain is possible each afternoon and that may help keep things somewhat cooler than the projected high temperatures.
