Heat Advisory in effect until Sunday evening (at least)

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN

...DANGEROUS HEAT EXPECTED FOR THE MID-SOUTH THROUGH THIS WEEKEND...

.THE COMBINATION OF RECORD BREAKING HEAT IN THE TRIPLE DIGITS AND INCREASING HUMIDITY WILL ALLOW FOR DANGEROUS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HEAT INDICES THROUGH SUNDAY. AN UPGRADE TO AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS POSSIBLE FOR SOME LOCATIONS.

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 7 PM CDT SUNDAY...

* HEAT INDEX READINGS...105 TO 110 DEGREES. LOCALLY HIGHER READINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

* TIMING...EACH AFTERNOON AND EVENING BETWEEN NOON AND 7 PM.

* IMPACTS...HEAT RELATED ILLNESS SUCH AS HEAT EXHAUSTION OR HEAT STROKE ARE A REAL THREAT. DEHYDRATION CAN OCCUR QUICKLY. THE EFFECTS OF THIS HEAT WAVE WILL BE CUMULATIVE GIVEN THAT IT IS GOING TO PERSIST FOR SEVERAL DAYS. REMEMBER...BEAT THE HEAT AND CHECK THE BACKSEAT. DO NOT LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS UNATTENDED IN VEHICLES FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME. ALSO REMEMBER TO CHECK ON THE ELDERLY AND THOSE WITHOUT INDOOR AIR CONDITIONING.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. 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.

TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK...THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY -- CALL 911.

Heat is the #1 weather-related killer in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year. In fact, on average, excessive heat claims more lives each year than floods, lightning, tornadoes and hurricanes combined! For heat safety tips from MWN, click here.  For detailed heat safety information from the NWS, click here.  Remember that a Code Orange air quality alert is also in effect for Shelby, Desoto, and Crittenden Counties.  Another good reason to just stay indoors if at all possible.

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For weather information for Memphis and the Mid-South, where and when you need it, visit MemphisWeather.net on the web, m.memphisweather.net on your mobile phone, download our iPhone or Android apps, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter.

Shelby Co. Health Department issues first-ever "Code Purple" air quality alert

Memphis metro residents got an air quality wake-up call that seemed to come out of nowhere today.  A Code Orange Air Quality Alert that has become the norm under hot and stagnant air conditions was raised to Code Red about 4:30pm as ozone levels climbed, then raised again to uncharted territory - a Code Purple alert - two hours later.

Though the unprecedented Code Purple only lasted for about 90 minutes until the sun set, it still seemed to catch many metro residents by surprise.  The overwhelming comment on MWN's Facebook post relaying the information was "wow!"

EPA color-coded air quality forecasts and their health concern level

Shelby County Health Department air pollution meteorologist Mike Goldstein indicated that this was the first ever Code Purple issued for the metro, which includes Shelby County, as well as Crittenden County in east AR and DeSoto County in northwest MS. "Our numbers are ...as high as I’ve seen in many years," Goldstein said.

A Code Purple, which is the second highest of the color-coded air pollution levels, means that the general population, not just those who are in the "sensitive groups" category, could be affected. Ground-level ozone is different from upper-level ozone that people generally think of when referencing a hole in the ozone layer. Low-level ozone is formed when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, chemical plants, and other sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight. Ozone at ground level is a harmful air pollutant.  At Code Purple levels, ozone can cause serious and lasting damage to the lungs.

Diagram courtesy AirNow.gov.

As long as hot high pressure remains over the Mid-South, MWN expects at least Code Orange alerts to be issued daily.  If the right conditions come together, we could see more Code Red days, though hopefully not Code Purple.  You can keep up with the current and forecast air quality levels, as well as tips to help reduce air pollution on the MWN Air Quality page or at AirNow.gov.

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For weather information for Memphis and the Mid-South, where and when you need it, visit MemphisWeather.net on the web, m.memphisweather.net on your mobile phone, download our iPhone or Android apps, or visit us on Facebook or Twitter.