Dangerous temperatures headed for metro-east. Here’s the latest forecast & safety tips
Temperatures at or near triple digits appear headed straight for the metro-east later this week.
According to the National Weather Service of St. Louis, Thursday’s high will be 100 degrees, with Friday’s high at 99 degrees.
Kevin Deitsch, a meteorologist with the NWS, said the heat is coming from Texas.
“Everyone’s heard a lot about the heat down in Texas. There’s an impressive heat dome of high pressure that’s drifting northeast,” Deitsch said. “Wednesday will be progressively warmer than today and then we’ll get very impressive heat Thursday and Friday, pushing 100 degrees. It’s the remnants of the same system in Texas drifting to the north and east.”
The system also will produce high humidity, Deitsch noted, which will cause the “feels like” temperature to be 105-110 degrees both Thursday and Friday afternoons. The area is under a heat advisory from 10 a.m. Thursday until 7 p.m. Friday.
“This will be the first real taste of summer we’ve had,” he said. “We’re especially concerned because this is the first excessive heat wave we’ve had and people are not adapted to it yet.”
Deitsch offered several safety tips, specifically warning not to leave children or pets in hot car.
According to the National Safety Council, on average, 38 children under the age of 15 die each year from heatstroke after being left in a vehicle. The number of child hot car deaths for 2022 was 33, according to the National Safety Council website and, so far in 2023, eight deaths have been reported.
Nearly every state has experienced at least one death since 1998. In both 2018 and 2019 a record number of 53 children died after being left in a hot vehicle, the website noted.
According to PETA’s website, in 2022, 54 animals endured heat–related deaths and another 469 were rescued from the heat — and those are just the ones that were reported.
“Our phrase is look before you lock,” Deitsch said. “If you have children always check the back seat before locking the car and before you head into wherever you’re going. It only takes a few minutes to get the car dangerously hot.”
He also recommended regularly checking on and monitoring those most susceptible to the heat, including the elderly, children, newborns, people with pre-existing health conditions, those who have difficulty breathing and those who are pregnant.
Finally, Deitsch suggested, to stay inside if at all possible.
“If you have to be outside, wear light-colored clothing and lightweight clothing, take plenty of breaks and drink plenty of fluids,” he said. “Certainly, try to avoid being outside if possible in the early to late afternoon.”
A look ahead
While temperatures will drop after Friday, it does not appear the metro-east will receive much relief, as the advanced forecast shows highs remaining at 90-93 degrees. Deitsch added the possibility of some precipitation exists as well.
“We’ll remain in the low 90s through the holiday weekend until Tuesday,” he said. “It does look like Sunday and Monday will be mostly dry — though, we can’t rule out an isolated storm. There is some precipitation chances on the 4th of July on Tuesday. That’s one reason the heat will not be as oppressive on the 4th because there is the chance for some much needed rainfall early next week and and late this weekend.”
The National Weather Service recommends keeping plugged into the forecast as it develops at www.weather.gov. Their Facebook page is www.facebook.com/NWSStLouis.
