#MEwx warm and sunny with advice on how to "become one" with the hot weather

Good morning Augusta

Click here to view weather readings in real time from my own personal wireless weather station.

This morning we have mostly sunny skies with highs in the mid 70s. Winds are light and variable.

Tonight we'll have partly cloudy conditions with lows in the lower 50s. Winds will be light and variable.

The outdoor temperature is 57.9°F, the dewpoint is 49.3°F and it feels like 57.9°F.

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

Today's sunrise is 4:55 AM, sunset is 8:26 PM and we'll have 15 hours 31 minutes of daylight today. Moonrise is 3:04 PM and Moonset is 1:33 AM. The moon phase is Waxing gibbous and is 68% illuminated. Our next full moon will be on June 21 and our next new moon is on July 5.

The wind velocity is between 1.8 MPH and 3.1 MPH from the Northeast.

The Relative pressure is 30.03, the Absolute pressure is 29.83 and rising with a weather graphic indicating sun and a few clouds.

The Humidity is 70%, the UV index is 3 placing the average person at moderate risk and the solar radiation reading is 418.9W/m2.

Visibility is 10.0 Miles / 16.1 Kilometers with Sun and clouds.

 

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 heatstroke. These two conditions should be monitored by a healthcare professional. When in doubt, contact your primary care provider or emergency services if absolutely necessary.