(Forsyth County, GA) A heat advisory is in effect today, June 14 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. after the week began with a heat wave of temperatures in the mid to upper 90s.
The current heat index is 105 to 110 degrees.
According to the National Weather Service, pregnant women, newborn babies, children, the elderly and those with chronic illnesses are among the most vulnerable when it comes to a heat advisory.
The NWS offers these tips when dealing with hot weather:
- Never leave people or pets in a car
- Drink plenty of hydrating fluids
- Take frequent breaks in the shade or air conditioning
- Check on friends, families and neighbors
Sports safety
Nathan Turner, the athletics and activities coordinator for the Forsyth County School District, said that all Georgia schools follow the Georgia High School Association’s (GHSA) heat guidelines and policies, which are based on the Wetbulb Globe Temperature (WBGT).
WBGT is defined as “a measure of the heat stress in direct sunlight, which takes into account: temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle and cloud cover (solar radiation)," according to the NWS website.
Outdoor workouts are banned if the WBGT is above 92.0.
For Forsyth County Schools, Turner said most practices were being held earlier in the day.
“With school being out we'll do them [practices] at 7 a.m. and be out of there by 8:30,” Turner said. “So we try to get them done early. Those that go on in the afternoon are under the heat warning so they'll just have to stay in the air-conditioned building.”
Pet safety
Justine Daniels, the shelter director of the Humane Society of Forsyth County, suggests dog owners walk their pets earlier in the morning while it is still cool outside, keep them inside for most of the day and make sure they have plenty of water during a heat advisory.
While the dogs at the Humane Society usually spend time outside in their run area for most of the day, today they were only let out from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. with a few bathroom breaks throughout the day due to the heat.
“Just basically keeping them inside as much as you can during the heat of the day, don't leave them outside for too long,” Daniels said. “And then, of course, you know, riding in cars, make sure that they have access to plenty of cool air when you're driving and of course, never, never keep them in your car.”
When dogs become overheated, they usually start panting heavily and become very lethargic. Putting cold wet towels on the dog and making sure it has plenty of water can help cool it down. If symptoms do not improve, a trip to the vet might be in order.
“You also need to be careful when you are walking a dog on hot pavement,” Daniels said. “Because that's how animals sweat, through the pads on their feet, if you overheat them. That’s how they cool themselves down I guess I should say.”
The rest of the week is expected to be in the mid to upper 90 degrees.
For more information on the weather, visit the National Weather Service website.
If you have a news tip in Forsyth County, contact Justine Lookenott at justine.lookenott@newsbreak.com.
To learn more about upcoming weather, read “North Georgia heating up this week, temperatures feel like 100 to 110 degrees.”
Comments / 0