It’s not exactly news to make the statement that it’s hot in the desert.
But even in some of the harshest, hottest climates that can be found in the contiguous United States, the heat is reaching historic new heights.
Temperatures in Arizona are still climbing higher than 110 degrees every single day, and officials are urging caution to anyone who may be unable to run an air conditioner in their home.
Spending too much time in a home without a cooling device in that sort of heat can literally cook a person.
Jonathan Bean, co-director of the Institute for Energy Solutions at the University of Arizona, told the Associated Press that temperatures that climb above 100 degrees can turn a house into an “air fryer” or “broiler” when combined with a lack of cloud cover.
In these cases, the home’s roof absorbs all that heat and funnels it down into the dwelling.
Another expert echoed that sentiment. “This level of heat that we are having in Phoenix right now is enormously dangerous, particularly for people who either don’t have air conditioning or cannot afford to operate their air conditioner,” Evan Mallen, a senior analyst for Georgia Institute of Technology’s Urban Climate Lab, told AP.
If you’re in an area experiencing an extreme heatwave, there are things that experts recommend to help you keep a little cooler.
Among the suggestions:
- Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing
- Take cool showers or baths
- Use your oven less to help reduce your home’s temperature
- Find shade when outside
- Wear a hat wide enough to protect your face
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids
- Check on family members, older adults and neighbors
And of course, never leave people or pets in a closed car. To see the full list of tips from Ready.gov, click here.
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