With temperatures forecasted to reach the upper 90s, Montgomery County officials have declared a hyperthermia alert for Wednesday and are cautioning residents to take precautions against the extreme heat.
Also, the National Weather Service’s (NWS) Baltimore/Washington Forecast Office is warning of possible severe thunderstorms in the county Wednesday afternoon and evening. The county faces a “slight” risk of severe thunderstorms between 2 and 10 p.m., NWS posted on social media.
Two rounds of scattered to widespread thunderstorms are possible, according to the NWS. The storms are expected to bring damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph, large hail, isolated tornadoes and frequent lightning.
On Tuesday afternoon, the county’s Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (OEMHS) issued the hyperthermia alert for between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Wednesday.
According to the county’s website, a hyperthermia alert is “issued for the county when forecasted temperatures, and/or heat index, in at least part of the county is at least 95 degrees or higher creating a hazardous situation in which heat-stroke and heat exhaustion are likely.”
The county website encourages residents “to check on elderly friends, relatives and neighbors who may be isolated, to ensure they are not showing signs of heat-related illnesses.”
On social media, OEMHS and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer encouraged residents to take precautionary measures to protect themselves and pets from heat-related illnesses.
If Wednesday’s temperatures exceed 90 degrees, it will mark the 10th consecutive day the Washington, D.C., area experiences temperatures of 90 degrees or higher, the Capital Weather Gang noted Tuesday on social media.
For more information on heat advisories, related services, safety tips and signs of heat exposure, check the county website.