Austin weather: Tips to keep residents cool amid heat wave

AUSTIN, Texas - The City of Austin and Travis County officials discussed their preparedness for a severe heat wave coming to Central Texas.

Officials said they are encouraging residents to stay cool, keep hydrated, and know how to beat the heat.

What they're saying:

Central Texas has reached triple digits in the month of May for the first time in decades.

The record-breaking heat has the City of Austin and first responders on alert well ahead of summer.

"We went from cool evenings and beautiful spring days to record-breaking heat literally overnight," Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said.

"This is the type of heat we generally don't start seeing until July. It is unwelcome, and it is unwanted, but it is here. This is a stark reminder that we need to be prepared for what the summer is going to bring," Watson added.

"Excessive heat can be dangerous. Whether you are a long-time Austinite, a new resident, or just visiting, know what to do to stay cool," said Jim Redick, Director of Austin’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. "If you have not yet experienced a Central Texas heat wave, now is the time to get ready. If you’re an Austin native, you may still be caught off guard by how severe and unpredictable heat can be. Take action now to protect yourself, your family, pets, and neighbors from heat-related illness."  

What you can do:

First responders gave some tips on how you can protect yourself from the heat:

• Pre-hydrate ahead of going out in the heat
• Wear sunscreen
• Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing
• Limit activities to early morning and evening

Officials are also reminding residents to be sure to look before you lock your vehicles to make sure you aren't leaving behind children or pets.

"It just takes a few minutes for a car to heat up to a point where it could severely hurt or kill a child," says Travis County Judge Andy Brown.

There are cooling shelters that are open not only for those in need, but pets as well, at public libraries and recreational centers during normal business hours. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said hours will be extended at those facilities as needed.

For updates from the city on weather conditions, click here.

Symptoms of heat stroke and exhaustion

Why you should care:

First responders said exposure to heat puts everyone at risk for heat-related illnesses, and in some cases, the illnesses can lead to a heat stroke and become deadly.

It is essential to know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and heat cramps. 

Heat exhaustion symptoms include:

• Cool, pale, clammy skin
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Heavy sweating
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fast, weak pulse

What to do for someone experiencing heat exhaustion:  

• Cool them and move them
• Move the person to a cooler area immediately
• Loosen clothing
• Sip cool water slowly

"Heat exhaustion is the vast majority of the heat-related illnesses that we see. Those symptoms for review include cool, pale, clammy skin, weakness, dizziness, heavy sweating, nausea, vomiting, and that fast, weak pulse that you'll sometimes feel when you're working in the heat," says Austin Travis County EMS Chief of Staff Wesley Hopkins.

If symptoms do not improve, they last longer than an hour, or the victim begins vomiting, you should seek medical help. Heat exhaustion can quickly lead to heat stroke within minutes. 

Heat stroke symptoms include:  

• Hot, red, dry or damp skin
• Rapid and strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Confusion
• Nausea or dizziness
• Body temperature above 103 F
• Lethargy or loss of consciousness

Heat stroke is a severe medical emergency that can cause death or permanent damage if emergency treatment is not given promptly. If you or someone you are with experiences symptoms of heat stroke, move them, cool them, and call 911: 

• Move the person to a cooler area, preferably air-conditioned
• Reduce their body temperature with cool clothes or baths
• Do not give fluids or anything by mouth to a person experiencing heat stroke

How hot will it get in Austin this week?

The backstory:

"Each day we're going to be breaking record highs starting on Tuesday, May 13, and that stretch could last all the way through the weekend. If we hit 103 or 104 on Wednesday, that'll be the hottest May afternoon ever for Austin," Zack Shields, FOX 7 meteorologist said.

He says this level of heat this early in the year comes from a combination of drought and wind. 

"The ground is very dry, even though we've had some recent rains, then you factor in a huge dome of high pressure that's going to be pushing down on us," he said. "The wind coming in from the Southwest, that's a down-sloping wind. It compresses the air, heats it up even more to record levels."

AustinWeather