This summer could be a scorcher for Lexington. Here’s what to expect from heat, storms
Lexington residents can expect above-normal temperatures and a greater number of hot days this summer.
Ron Steve, meteorologist with National Weather Service Louisville, said there could be some “decent days here and there,” but there’s going to be more hot days than typically expected.
Lexington summers already see highs just under 90, with the hottest temperatures in the upper and mid-80s and lows in the upper 60s. In July, the high is usually 87 degrees with a low of 67, Steve said.
An average of 25 days have temperatures reaching or exceeding 90 degrees during a Lexington summer, Steve said. The NWS also expects a greater number of these days this summer, though officials can’t predict an exact number.
You should take heat precautions every summer, Steve said, and particular diligence is due on hotter days.
“If you can avoid the heat of the afternoon, do it. And if you can’t avoid the heat of the afternoon, make sure you’re taking breaks and drinking plenty of water,” Steve said. “Even on what are otherwise nice summer days, never, ever leave people or pets unattended in a parked car.”
Here’s what the Mayo Clinic’s website says you can do to help prevent heat exhaustion:
Wear loose, lightweight clothing.
Protect against sunburn with sunscreen with SPF of at least 15. Apply generously, and reapply every two hours — or more if you are sweating or swimming.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Take precautions with certain medications. Some medicine can affect your body’s ability to regulate temperature.
Never leave anyone in a parked car, even if the windows are cracked and it’s parked in the shade. The temperature inside the car may be up to 20 degrees higher than outside after just 10 minutes.
Take it easy during the hottest parts of the day. Try to schedule exercise or physical labor for early morning or evening.
Get acclimated. It can take several weeks for your body to adjust to the warmer weather, so limit time working or exercising in the heat till you have had gentler exposure.
Be cautious if you are at an increased risk and pay attention to signs of overheating.
Symptoms of heat stroke to watch out for include high body temperature, alerted mental state/behavior, nausea and vomiting, flushed skin, rapid breathing, a racing heart rate and headache.
Another sign the Mayo Clinic warns of is an alteration in sweating. If you’re experiencing heat stroke due to hot weather, your skin could become hot and dry. If strenuous exercise has caused the issue, your skin may be dry or slightly moist.
Will this be a stormy summer for Lexington?
Storms should not be more of a concern than in typical years. Steve said the more active weather is likely to occur in the Deep South and along the East Coast, while Kentucky falls into a category that will probably be similar to most years.
Although NWS meteorologists do not expect a particularly high number of storms in Lexington compared to averages, there are precautions that should be taken every season, Steve said, as storms can strike any time.
“Pay attention to the weather on the stormy days, cause no matter what kind of season it is, if there’s only one bad storm all summer, but it causes damage on your block, you had a bad summer,” Steve said.
To stay safe when severe weather is possible, Steve said it is important to heed warnings as they are announced. If you’re outside and you hear thunder, you need to get inside even if it’s not raining, Steve said. That thunder tells you the lightning is close enough that the next one could be where you are.
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