The heat is on; Austin residents find respit where they can
Published 10:46 am Friday, July 22, 2016
Dawson Jensen, 2, cools off at the Austin Municipal Pool Thursday afternoon. -- Photos by Jora Bothun/jora.bothun@austindailyherald.com
Ray Tracy, 5, and his mother, Dawn Tracy, play aroundin the water.
Left, Maddie Herrick, 14, Salma Masood, 14, and Grace Mayer, 14.
Austin residents took a dip at Austin Municipal Pool and did what they could to keep cool during the first day of a dangerous heat wave Thursday.
High temperatures reached 90 degrees with heat index values of 107 around 5:15 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. That was still well below the highest recorded July 21 temperature of 96 set in 1940.
The area saw little relief overnight as lows only dipped to 73 — with 100 percent relative humidity — at 5:15 a.m. Friday, right around the time many awoke to a haze of fog.
An excessive heat warning remains in effect until 7 p.m. Friday with highs were expected to reach 91 with heat index values near 105.
The weather service warned the heat will again be difficult on people and will raise the threat of heat-related illnesses, especially in children, the elderly and pets.
The excessive humidity should wane by this weekend when the highs should drop to around 86 on Saturday and 83 on Sunday. However, the weather service is warning of a chance of thunderstorms, which could produce heavy rain, hail and gusty winds, on Saturday night.
