#MEwx Sun, mild summer temps and "How to stay cool" in hot summer weather

Good morning Augusta.

This morning we have mostly sunny skies with highs in the lower 70s. West winds around 10 mph gusting to 25 mph.

Tonight we'll have mostly clear conditions  with lows in the lower 50s. West winds around 10 mph in the evening, becoming light and variable.

The wind direction is Northwest between 0.0 MPH and 0.2 MPH.

The Relative pressure is 29.79, the Absolute pressure is 29.59 and rising with a weather graphic indicating sun and a few clouds.

We didn't receive any  rain here over the past 24 hours.

Our outdoor temperature is 59.7°F, the humidity is  67% and the dew point is 49.1°F.

If you want to see real-time instrument readings from my personal weather station in my North field click Here. That will take you directly to my WIFI weather station.

Visibility is 10.0 miles / 16.1 kilometers with sun and some puffy clouds.

The UV rating is 1 out of 16, The moon is  50.5% illuminated, the moon phase is Waning Crescent, Sunrise is 5:25 am↑ 63° Northeast, sunset is 8:04 pm↑ 297° Northwest,  Moonrise is 11:56 pm↑ 69° East, Moonset is 1:27 pm↑ 288° West and we'll have 14 hours 39

minutes of daylight today.

 

Ways to stay cool in hot and humid weather

Staying cool when you're outside in hot and humid weather is a combination of things. Below are some of the many ways I've found on the web. Go online and read through others to be sure you understand what to do. Be careful to avoid getting Heat Exhaustion or Heat Stroke.

Also, clothing manufacturers such as "Arctic Cool" and "Temperature Master" (among many others) manufacture and sell clothing specifically designed for hot and humid conditions.

 

Staying cool"

Beat the Heat: Here's How to Stay Cool in Hot Weather

Drink lots and lots of water. ...

Avoid the sun between 11am to 2pm. ...

Dress appropriately. ...

Refrigerate or freeze your bedsheets. ...

Cool down your "hot zones" ...

Get spicy. ...

Eat a popsicle. ...

Make a smoothie to cool down.

 

Humid weather can be difficult to combat when it comes to keeping yourself cool, especially as temperatures are on the rise. Fortunately, there are some

great methods out there to keep yourself healthy and safe during the next humid heatwave. 

To stay cool in humid weather, you should focus on cooling down your body temperature and bringing the temperature of your house down. When you find yourself

facing the great outdoors, you can choose activities that keep you on the cooler side and drink plenty of water.

 

How to Stay Cool in Humid Weather: 9 Effective Tips

Keeping yourself cool.

One of the most effective ways to beat the humidity is to keep your body temperature down. Whether you're indoors or outdoors, there are some steps that

you can take to beat the heat.

Cold Drink + Cold Foods = Cooler Body

Drinking lots of the right fluids can be the most effective way to keep your body temperature down. There are plenty of options when choosing a hydrating

drink such as water, milk, fruit-infused water, 100% fruit juice, sports drinks, caffeine-free tea, and coconut water. Avoiding alcoholic and caffeinated

beverages will help your body retain as many of the electrolytes as possible.

Avoid using the oven and eat cool foods like salads and fresh fruit. Choose fruits that are high in water content like watermelon. You can even freeze

watermelon and throw the pieces in your glass of water in place of ice cubes! 

Cotton for th

Clothing:

Cotton is the perfect fabric choice for hot and humid weather for clothing and bedclothes. Wearing lightweight and moisture-wicking cotton layers will help keep you cool with the breathability of the fabric. Layers are a great choice because they can be removed and put back on as the weather conditions change.

 

You don't need to dump a bucket full of ice water on yourself to stay cool. However, a cool water shower definitely can help. Pulse points also play an important role in keeping your body temperature down. Cool water, a damp washcloth, or an ice pack on your neck, wrists, inside of your elbows or knees, tops of the feet and ankles are all pulse points that will help you cool off quickly.

 

 

Become One With the Climate

Acclimating to your climate has one of the greatest long term effects when it comes to staying cool in humid weather. The struggle, in the beginning, is a bit real, but the long term benefits will make you pretty hardcore!

 

Start with some light outdoor exercise. Nothing too strenuous but maybe a brief moderately paced walk. Turn down your AC 1-2° each day, which will help you adjust to the temperature in the house slowly. Continuing to stay hydrated still plays an important role in keeping you cool and healthy while acclimating to the humid weather conditions.

 

The next major step in the plan to cool down is to bring the temperature indoors down to a comfortable level.

A/C, Please

If you are amongst the number of homes that have air conditioning, hot and humid weather would be a great time to use it. Keep the temperature at a level that is comfortable for you. If you crank the temperature to say 65℉, an increase in your electric bill is a definite possibility. The aim is less sweating, not necessarily recreating an arctic tundra in your living room.

 

Fan Placement Matters

If air conditioning is not an option for you, fans can definitely assist in creating a nice breeze indoors, helping you feel a bit cooler. A well-placed fan can keep air moving and directed in the right places.

 

Placing a fan in the window can circulate fresh air and can pull hot air out of a stale room. Fan placement also depends on the arrangement of your furniture and any decorative obstacles that may be in the way. A box fan on the floor facing a wall that is opposite of where you would like the cool air can pull cold air from the floor and circulate it up higher in the room. Typically, pointing fans away from surfaces with light items on them, such as paper, is recommended.

 

Window Open, Window Closed

As mentioned above, an open window with a fan can circulate stale and hot air out of a room. An open window can also bring fresh outside air into a hot and humid room. However, closing a window can also keep heat and humidity out, allowing a fan to circulate cooler air from the floor level or for your air conditioning to effectively do its job.

 

Unplug It!

Not charging your phone right now? Unplug the charger! Electronics that are not necessary can generate a lot of unwanted heat. It may not seem like it, but when you have a phone charger, a laptop, a PlayStation in rest mode, and coffee maker all plugged in, the heat builds up! Avoiding using an oven would also drastically heat the amount of heat being released into your living space as well.

 

Unplugging the electronics and small appliances around the house when they are not in use will aid in reducing the amount of heat that is added to a room. This will allow for more efficient cooling when using the cooldown method of your choice. This is more important when not using air conditioning but could also save you money by reducing your electric bill! The whole two birds with one stone concept can actually work in real life!

 

Into the great wide open.

Staying cool outdoors can be a challenge in hot and humid weather. Luckily, there are several things that you can do to keep yourself more content if you are braving the great outdoors.

 

Keeping It Cool

While getting ready for your day, try planning for activities that will keep you cool, such as swimming or finally catching that art exhibition that you've been dying to see (in the air-conditioned building). Make sure you use your sunscreen of at least 30 SPF and a nice wide-brimmed hat to protect your skin and eyes from the bright sun.

 

Hang out in the shade and frequently rest to avoid unnecessary exhaustion or overexposure. If strenuous activity is a must, head out and get those heavy-duty yard jobs done in the early morning or evening when temperatures are at their coolest for the day.

 

Safety

There are a few safety concerns when dealing with high heat and humidity. If you become concerned about your safety or someone around you, do not hesitate to seek medical advice.

 

Drink! Drink! Drink!

As mentioned above, the best thing you can do for yourself is to stay hydrated. There are tons of options out there for beverages that keep you hydrated. There are also ways to hydrate without drinking water. Eating watermelon and other fruits and vegetables that are high in water content will definitely help out.

 

Too Much Heat

The more difficult conditions to watch out for are heat exhaustion and heat stroke. These two conditions should be monitored by a healthcare professional. When in doubt, contact your primary care provider or emergency services if absolutely necessary.