'Heat Dome,' High Temps: Stay Cool With These Tips

By Jessie Biele

Break out your water bottles, because the heat isn't going away this week.

Temperatures will break the 95-degree mark and push 100 degrees for much of this week, with heat indices pushing past 100 degrees. According to the Capital Weather Gang, this surge in temperatures is occurring due to a large heat dome moving into the region.

What is a heat dome, anyway? According to National Weather Service meteorologist Eli Jacks, a heat dome is a combination of hot summer weather exacerbated by cloudless skies and the sun's higher angle during the summer.

"When a high pressure system develops in the upper atmosphere, the air below it sinks and compresses because there's more weight on top, causing temperatures in the lower atmosphere to heat up," Jacks told the Associated Press. "The dome of high pressure also pushes the jet stream and its drier, cooler air, farther north — it's now well into Canada — while hot, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico circulates clockwise around the dome, traveling farther inland than normal."

If you'll be spending time outdoors this week, you'll want to take steps to avoid heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and other issues related to excessive heat exposure. 

Excessive heat exposure can cause several health problems including heat cramps, which are painful spasms of your arm, leg and/or abdomen muscles, says Patient First, a primary and urgent care center with locations throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

People experiencing these symptoms should rest in a cooler place and drink water or fluids containing electrolytes.

Heat exhaustion symptoms include profuse sweating, headache, dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat, skin that feels cool and moist, and muscle cramps.  

If you or someone you know are experiencing these symptoms, move him or her to a cooler location, apply cool wet cloths to their body, and give them cool water to drink.  If the person vomits or refuses to drink, call 911.

Follow these tips to avoid heat-related illnesses:

• Wear appropriate lightweight clothing.
• Drink water throughout the day.
• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity on hot days.
• Take frequent breaks in a cool place. 

What are your best tips to beat the heat? Tell us in the comments.