Forecast
* Today: 97 high/73 low * Wed.: 94 high/74 low, 30 percent chance of thunderstorms * Thu.: 92 high/73 low, 40 percent chance of thunderstorms * Fri: 89 high/71 low, 30 percent chance of thunderstorms Source: National Weather Service
Miley Turner, 5, cools off under a mushroom fountain.Cool tips
* Stay indoors as much as possible and avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.* Avoid strenuous work during the hottest part of the day (late morning through early evening). Take plenty of breaks.* Drink plenty of water. Avoid drinking caffeinated or alcoholic beverages which may actually cause, or worsen, dehydration.* Wear clothing that is lightweight, loose-fitting and light- colored.* Wear sunscreen if outdoors.* Do not leave pets, children, or elderly people unattended in vehicles.Source: National Weather Service
A teenager splashes in Little River near Maryville, Tenn., in this 2012 photo. This summer, people across Tennessee and Georgia are seeking relief from hot tempertaures. (AP Photo/Knoxville News Sentinel, Adam Brimer)The Southern heat wave continues.
Steady temperatures in the low-to-mid 90s will climb today and Wednesday, with triple digit heat indexes, according to the National Weather Service.
"There's a ridge of high pressure, with winds from the southwest that are bringing these higher temperatures," meteorologist Derek Eisentrout said. "That ridge should break up with some storms later in the week."
Though the local National Weather Service branch in Morristown, Tenn., posted heat safety tips on its website, Eisentrout said this weather is still shy of warranting a heat advisory.
"To meet the specific criteria for a heat advisory, the daytime heat index has to be greater than 105 degrees and the nighttime low has to reach 75, for a period of a few days," Eisentrout said. "We're close to advisory criteria, but I don't think we'll reach it this week."
Relief agencies in the area said they were continuing their summer protocols.
Kimberly George, director of marketing and development for the Salvation Army of Greater Chattanooga, said that organization was still in the thick of its "Beat the Heat" campaign, which is helping those in need stay cool with hydration stations outside its day shelter, giving out box fans and providing utility assistance. George also said the Salvation Army's pool in East Lake has been open, and it has been packed the last several days.
"The kids are so enjoying it," she said. "It's their oasis."
Amy Maxwell, spokeswoman for Hamilton County Emergency Services, said her organization wasn't making any advisories yet either.
"This is what we see every summer," she said. "Like other years, we encourage people to stay tuned to the weather, and prepare themselves for the day. Drink lots of fluids, wear light clothing, wear sunscreen. We also encourage people to check on kids and the elderly regularly, because they dehydrate quicker."
Jens Christensen, executive director of the Chattanooga Community Kitchen, said its day shelter continues to be open seven days a week during the hottest hours, keeping water available at all times and giving out sunscreen.
"If you need a place to get out of the heat, it's a good place to duck in and escape," he said.
The high temperatures can also prove fatal for animals. McKamey Animal Center Executive Director Jamie McAloon said the center has already seen a number of animals, primarily dogs tethered outside, come in comatose from heatstroke.
"The number one thing is to keep your animals indoors when it's hot like this," McAloon said. "Animals on chains is a worst case scenario, because they can get tangled, which can prevent their access to water and shade."
She said if animals absolutely have to be kept outside, they need buckets and buckets of water, preferably dug into the ground so they can't be tipped over, and kept in the shade. She also wanted to remind people that it's city law that a dog can't be on a chain after 10 p.m.
"In this kind of heat, there's zero tolerance for neglect, and that's a painful death," she said. "We'll be checking."
Contact Will Healey at whealey@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6731.