Heat expected to continue through Tuesday evening

Sun over River Raisin from Main Street Bridge. Photo credit: Sara Swanson.

by Sara Swanson

The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for southern Michigan, including the Manchester area, through 8pm on Tuesday, June 24, for heat index values of 100 to 105 degreesF, and little to no relief is expected at night as temperatures will only fall into the mid and upper 70s with the heat index lingering around 80 degrees F.

The Washtenaw County Health Department advises:

• Drink plenty of water even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine.
• Never leave children or pets alone in closed vehicles.
• Check on family, friends, and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
• Check on your animals frequently to ensure they are not suffering from the heat.
• Go to a designated cooling site if your home loses power during periods of extreme heat. Stay on the lowest floor and out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.

In our area, the Manchester District Library, located at 912 City Rd, is a designated cooling site. They are open 10am to 8pm, Monday through Thursday, 10am to 6pm, Friday, 10am to 2pm, Saturday, and closed on Sunday. If you need to find a cooling site that is open outside of these hours, visit bit.ly/Wash-Cooling.

Heat illness can occur when the body is unable to cool down. The body normally cools down by sweating. During extremely hot weather, sweating may not be enough to cool the body. The risk of heat-related illness increases when temperatures remain high for multiple days.

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.