I just had to share this map. It's from the
Oklahoma Mesonet Sunday evening. It shows the maximum heat index values reached today.
Only
four of the 120 stations were below 100 degrees.
Those lucky folks were in Westville in Adair County, Mt. Herman in McCurtain County, Kenton and Boise City in Cimarron County (Though in Cimarron County, the actual high was 105).
The high temperature winners today were in Hollis and Erick in western Oklahoma. They topped out at 115. That's only 21 degrees cooler than the
highest temperature ever recorded on Earth.
Bixby recorded 104. According to the National Weather Service's station at Tulsa International, the heat index reached about 106. The high heat index at Jones Airport was 108.
An excessive heat warning from the weather service in effect until Monday night for Creek, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Tulsa, Pawnee, Washington and Osage counties, with heat index values forecast near 110 Monday afternoon.
With these almost comically high heat index values, I thought I would clarify what exactly heat index means.
Also known as
apparent temperature, it is what the temperature feels like to us humans.
The body cools itself by sweating, which evaporates and creates a cooling sensation. Our body can also regulate the rate and depth of blood circulation. Panting also helps.
Enter humidity. When humidity is high, it inhibits the evaporation of sweat and makes it more difficult for the body to cool itself, thereby making it feel hotter than it actually is.
While the actual high in Kenton and Boise City may have been 105, the air was much drier than the soup we breathe down here, which lead to a heat index of 98 there.
When the body's ability to cool itself is diminished, it increases the danger for people who are working or playing outside. Please, drink plenty of clear, non-alcoholic fluids, wear light clothing and stay in air conditioning as much as possible. Check on your neighbors and be safe.
--Jerry Wofford
