Hazardous heat advisory issued for Albany, Southwest Georgia

ALBANY — It’s another good day to stay indoors.

Officials with the National Weather Service’s office in Tallahassee have issued a hazardous weather conditions advisory for the region, which includes Albany and Southwest Georgia, for 11 a.m.-7 p.m. today, when forecasters say the heat index will reach the 109 degree to 112 degree range with actual highs of 94-98 across the area.

According to the advisory, predawn dewpoint temperatures were already tracking high than Monday’s, which created conditions for higher humidity today with high temperatures in the same range as Monday’s.

“The combination should produce dangerous heat indices around 110 degrees over southeast Alabama … the Florida panhandle and western Florida Big bend … and portions of Southwest Georgia,” the NWS advisory stated. “Heat index readings should generally peak between around noon and 3 p.m. before scattered thunderstorms begin to develop.”

The heat index, according to the Weather Service, is how hot it feels to an individual when relative humidity is factored. For instance, 94 degrees with a relative humidity of 60 percent would generate a heat index of 110 degrees. Weather officials also note the index is set for shady, light-wind conditions, which means full exposure to sunshine can increase a heat index value by as much as 15 degrees.

According to the Weather Service’s latest forecast for the Albany area, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms developing today, bringing general rainfall amounts of a tenth or a quarter-inch of rain. In area’s where thunderstorms develop, rain totals could be appreciably higher.

Weather officials said those working outdoors today should take extra precautions, scheduling strenuous activities in early morning or the evening if possible. “Wear light-weight and loose-fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water,” weather officials said, adding people should be aware of “signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”