Temperatures in the mid 90’s combined with a ton of gulf moisture have combined to bring us the first real taste of summer weather. It has also prompted the National Weather Service to issue a excessive heat advisory. That means that we are going to have a heat index at or above 105° for the biggest portion of the week.

There is only a slim chance of rain on Thursday and again on Saturday at this point, but with this type of heat and an abundance of moisture a pop-up thunderstorm is not only possible, but welcome!

Here are a few tips to keep yourself and loved ones safe:

1) Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol – the key is to stay hydrated, and unfortunately a cold coke or beer may sound good but won’t help you hydrate your body.

2) Take plenty of breaks in a cool place – air conditioning is the best, but the shade will help out.

3) Wear loose-fitting and light colored clothes – sweat is your body’s natural air conditioning. Loose fitting cotton clothes work well to keep the air moving. Light colored clothes actually reflect more of that bright sunlight than dark colored clothes.

4) Bring outdoor pets inside – Your animals can suffer heat stroke as easily as we can. Problem is, your dog or cat don’t sweat like we do. Panting is their way of cooling off. Leave plenty of cool water out for Fido!

5) Check on the sick or elderly – With this kind of heat, it is important to check in on the elderly from time to time.

Bottom line – It’s HOT, and heat exhaustion and heat stroke are serious problems this time of year. Have fun in the summer heat, but stay safe!