How Southern Nevada compares to the country’s extreme heat wave
Some states in the country canceled schools this week due to “extreme” temperatures. But before you say, “Oh, give me a break,” Nevada, let’s chat.
Many school districts closed their schools due to record-breaking summer temperatures, NBC News reported. More than 50 million people across the Midwest and Northeast were under heat warnings this week.
Affected states included the Midwestern and southern states of Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Oklahoma. and the mid-Atlantic states including Virginia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. Some of these states saw temperatures 15 to 25 degrees higher than normal for this time of year. Even some schools that are not closed all day allow classes to start early.
NBC News reported that teachers and school administration cited concerns about students’ health and ability to learn as the reason for the closure. The extreme heat they are experiencing now is the same as we felt this summer. When unprecedented heat waves paralyzed much of the southern, midwestern, and mid-Atlantic portion of the country.
So how high are these temperatures anyway? How does it compare to the intense summer heat in Nevada?
One of the highest temperatures reported was 102 degrees in Dallas, Texas. Yes, those of us in Southern Nevada are probably thinking right now, “It’s not that hot.” And it certainly doesn’t seem that way. Not when compared to this year’s record high of 116 degrees, according to ExtremeWeatherwatch.com. Many of us in Southern Nevada pray for 102 days when summer comes.
So why are these temperatures in other states so dangerous?
Well, in Southern Nevada, we hear the phrase “dry heat” a lot. And this is often just an annoying thing that people from outside Nevada say when we complain about the summer. But that’s exactly why this phrase is so important. Dry heat, i.e. high temperatures with low humidity, allows the body to sweat to cool down. High temperatures and high humidity are a very dangerous combination. When the human body cannot sweat, it overheats and bad things happen.
So, next time we’re complaining about the heat and someone says “at least it’s dry heat,” don’t turn your attention to it. They have a very valid point. -Wendy Rush, 96.3 KKLZ
