Heat Wave About To Break

It seems that this summer's record-setting heat and drought may finally turn a corner tomorrow with some storms and slightly cooler air. But until then, the National Weather Service has issued two warnings for the Peoria and central Illinois area today, both of which are worth reproducing in full:

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A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING.

* TEMPERATURE...HIGH TEMPERATURES OF 100 TO 103 DEGREES ARE
  EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON. THE HEAT INDEX WILL BE ABOVE 105
  DEGREES MUCH OF THE AFTERNOON.

* IMPACTS...HEAT RELATED ILLNESS IS LIKELY WITH PROLONGED
  OUTDOOR EXPOSURE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS
EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY
WILL CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE.

TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS... IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE...
WHEN POSSIBLE...RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING
OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND
HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN
POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.

RESIDENTS WITHOUT ACCESS TO AIR CONDITIONING ARE ESPECIALLY AT
RISK. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY...CALL 9 1 1. OTHER VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS INCLUDE THE ELDERLY...YOUNG CHILDREN...AND ALSO PETS.
PEOPLE AND PETS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT IN VEHICLES. BEAT THE HEAT...
CHECK THE BACKSEAT.


...HEIGHTENED FIRE DANGER ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST ILLINOIS
TODAY...

A VERY HOT AIRMASS WILL SET UP ACROSS THE AREA TODAY. THIS
HEAT COMBINED WITH DEWPOINTS DROPPING INTO THE LOWER 60S DURING
THE AFTERNOON WILL PRODUCE LOW AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 25
TO 30 PERCENT. IN ADDITION...IN A TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT
AHEAD OF LOW PRESSURE TRACKING INTO THE UPPER MIDWEST...SOUTHWEST
WINDS OF 15 TO 20 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS SPREAD ACROSS THE AREA
THIS AFTERNOON. THESE WEATHER CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH VERY DRY
VEGETATION DUE TO THE LACK OF RAINFALL THIS GROWING SEASON...WILL
CREATE CONDITIONS FAVORABLE FOR THE UNCONTROLLED SPREAD OF OUTDOOR
FIRES.

PEOPLE ARE DISCOURAGED FROM OUTDOOR BURNING. IF COOKING
OUTDOORS...KEEP A CAREFUL WATCH ON THE GRILL. BURNING EMBERS CAN
BLOW AROUND AND EASILY CATCH GRASS ON FIRE. IMPROPERLY DISCARDED
CIGARETTES CAN ALSO START FIRES WHICH WILL SPREAD QUICKLY.

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And remember, here is a compilation of important tips on how to beat the heat, compiled by your gentle Peoria chiropractor.