ITP UPDATE: 105 DEGREES in THE HUDSON VALLEY AREA OF NEW YORK

When the heat breaks, I'll update ITP, until then, it's super, sweltering hot in this crib.
All of you sitting in your air conditioned houses, you have NO CLUE. Here in the Hudson Valley Area of New York, it hit 105 degrees, yesterday as I was wondering why I was sweating all day. Try to beat the heat: Keep cool, hydrated, ventilated and do AVOID sun and heat stroke. ITP's author had a heat stroke as a 7 year child. I remembered it like it was yesterday, as I sweltered in summer camp: I broke down (I was only 7) crying on the bus home from summer camp, as I felt really cold in hot weather, until the bus driver stopped the bus, then drove me to my home (back in the days of living in Long Island) took me by the hand to my dad, and told him I was really sick with either heat or sun stoke. From there, my dad brought me downstairs, and gave me salt and water, and put me to sleep, I felt better the next day.
WHAT IS A HEAT/SUN STROKE:
What is heat stroke?

Heat stroke (also referred to as heatstroke) is a form of hyperthermia, an abnormally elevated body temperature with accompanying physical and neurological symptoms. Unlike heat cramps and heat exhaustion, two forms of hyperthermia that are less severe, heat stroke is a true medical emergency that can be fatal if not properly and promptly treated.

The body normally generates heat as a result of metabolism, and is usually able to dissipate the heat by either radiation of heat through the skin or by evaporation of sweat. However, in extreme heat, high humidity, or vigorous exertion under the sun, the body may not be able to dissipate the heat and the body temperature rises, sometimes up to 106 F (41.1 C) or higher. Another cause of heat stroke is dehydration. A dehydrated person may not be able to sweat fast enough to dissipate heat, which causes the body temperature to rise.

Those most susceptible to heart strokes include:

* infants,

* the elderly (often with associated heart diseases, lung diseases, kidney diseases, or who are taking medications that make them vulnerable to heat strokes),

* athletes, and

* outdoor workers physically exerting themselves under the sun.

What are heat stroke symptoms?

Symptoms of heat stroke can sometimes mimic those of heart attack or other conditions. Sometimes a person experiences symptoms of heat exhaustion before progressing to heat strokes.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion include:

* nausea,

* vomiting,

* fatigue,

* weakness,

* headache,

* muscle cramps and aches, and

* dizziness.

However, some individuals can develop symptoms of heat stroke suddenly and rapidly without warning.

Different people may have different symptoms and signs of heatstroke. But common symptoms and signs of heat stroke include:

* high body temperature

* the absence of sweating, with hot red or flushed dry skin

* rapid pulse

* difficulty breathing

* strange behavior

* hallucinations

* confusion

* agitation

* disorientation

* seizure

* coma

FROM BLOOMBERG BUSINESSWEEK:
July 7 (Bloomberg) -- New York City temperatures may reach 100 degrees again today after setting a new daily record and coming within 3 degrees of an all-time high, the National Weather Service said.

While today’s readings aren’t forecast to reach yesterday’s 103 Fahrenheit (39 Celsius), most people won’t feel much relief from the heat wave that began over the weekend, said Richard Castro, a weather service meteorologist in Upton, New York.

“It will still be extremely hot,” Castro said by telephone. “Cooling off a couple of degrees from temperatures in the 100s isn’t relief.”

Utilities asked customers to curb electricity as the high temperatures from Virginia to Maine strained air conditioners and raised power use in New York to 33,450 megawatts, just below the record of 33,939 set in August 2006, according to the New York Independent System Operator.

Consolidated Edison Co. urged its customers in the New York City area to conserve power during the day.

The heat will hang on through the week and Washington may see its hottest day today, said Joe Bastardi, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather Inc. in State College, Pennsylvania.

The weather service is predicting Washington and Baltimore temperatures will reach 101 today. Yesterday, Reagan Washington National Airport recorded 102 and Baltimore-Washington International posted a mark of 105 degrees.

Washington’s Peak

“Tomorrow will be the peak of the heat in D.C.,” Bastardi said. “It won’t be as bad in New England.”

A heat wave is defined as at least three days in a row of temperatures of 90 or more, and temperatures in New York reached the upper 90s on July 4. New York’s last weeklong heat wave was in August 1998, while the longest was 12 days from Aug. 24 to Sept. 4, 1953, according to agency records.

The longest stretch of consecutive 100-plus days on record at Central Park came in 1993, when it rose from 100 on July 8 to 102 on July 10.

Bastardi said while temperatures will start to fall by the weekend, he expects July will be much warmer than normal across most of the country. He said another heat wave will probably arrive after July 15 and bring temperatures of 100 or higher to the northern Great Plains and Chicago.

“I don’t think this is the last of the heat,” Bastardi said in an interview. “The next time it comes back it may not be as extreme on the East Coast, but the Northern Plains, Chicago and Minneapolis are liable to broil for the last two weeks of July.”

Castro said the high temperatures in New York will only be in the 90s as the week goes on and by the weekend will be in the high 80s. He said normal high temperatures for this time of year are in the 80s.

Yesterday the weather service issued heat advisories for much of the East and Northeast, meaning the high temperatures may have serious health consequences.

In addition to the heat, air quality advisories warned that pollution and ground level ozone will be dangerous today, especially for people with breathing problems.

--With assistance from Christopher Martin in New York. Editors: Charlotte Porter, Dan Stets

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian K. Sullivan in Boston at bsullivan10@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Dan Stets at dstets@bloomberg.net
Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-