CHANGE IN WEATHER PATTERNS BRING RELIEF FROM SOUTHERN HEAT WAVE;
NOAA's NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CONTINUES TO WARN RESIDENTS ABOUT "SILENT KILLER"
July 24, 2000 — A change in the upper level winds is bringing welcomed relief to much of the southern United States, which baked last week under blistering temperatures. While some areas of far-west Texas still face 100-degree temperatures, the rest of the Lone Star State will not see triple-digit readings until the weekend, according to forecasters at NOAA's National Weather Service.
A shift in wind patterns pushed the brunt of the hot air westward and brought some relief to residents of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Georgia. Forecasters expect this pattern to hold through most of the week, except in Texas, where temperatures will again climb to near 100 degrees.
Rick Smith, a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service's Southern Region headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, continues to caution residents to guard against being victims of "the silent killer" —heatwaves.
From 1989-1998, heat-related deaths outpaced fatalities in other severe weather
categories nationwide, according to National Weather Service statistics. Based on this 10-year average, hurricanes killed 14 people annually, tornadoes 57, lightning strikes 58 and floods 99. people respectively. Excessive heat, however, killed an average of 193 in the same time period. In 1999, there were 497 heat related deaths—more than five times the 92 deaths caused by tornados.
"Heatwaves, caused by consecutive days of excessively high temperatures, are nothing new to residents of the south," Smith said. "But everyone must take precautions and heed the advice of public health officials to stay indoors as much as possible, drink plenty of water and keep cool."
Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Weather Service's Southern Region — Links to Weather Forecast Offices in this region
NOAA's Heat Safety Tips
All About Heat Waves
What to Do When Heat Waves Strike
Are You Ready for a Heat Wave? — American Red Cross
NOAA's Drought Information Center
NOAA's Climate Prediction Center
NOAA's Excessive Heat Index
Media Contact:
John Leslie, NOAA's National Weather Service, (301) 713-0622.
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