CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A combination of heat and humidity is expected across the Mountain State Wednesday, pushing the heat index into the triple digits.
“We’re looking at, generally, from Parkersburg down to Charleston over toward Huntington is our main area of concern for those 100 degree heat index advisories this afternoon,” said Dylan Cooper, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, on Wednesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
Cooper said parts of West Virginia could see temperatures reaching the low to mid-90s, mainly around the Ohio River, and that heat advisories may be issued later in the afternoon.
The high humidity is expected to last through the end of the week, so Cooper said it’s important to take precautions when dealing with the heat. Homeowners are advised to prepare their ac units and schedule an ac repair service now to ensure that their cooling system will be functioning properly throughout the summer. An annual air conditioning repair service with the help of a professional ac service contractor may also help improve your cooling system’s energy efficiency.
“Number one, drink plenty of fluids. No caffeine. No alcohol. Try to limit your outdoor time as much as possible. Stay in the air conditioning if you can,” he said.
Cooper said the NWS calls the heat a “silent killer” because it is something that cannot be seen — only felt.
“It’s not like a thunderstorm, something that you can see and say ‘oh, that’s dangerous,'” he said. “A lot of times people don’t realize how hot they are, how hot it is outside and how much that is taxing their bodies.”
Temperatures are slightly above average this week compared to previous years, but Cooper said the state has generally seen a cool summer, so far.
A front will push through the state Wednesday night during the overnight hours. Temperatures won’t fall too much, but will dry out some areas this weekend.