Heat Advisory

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TOPEKA KS 401 AM CDT FRI JUL 20 2012 REPUBLIC-WASHINGTON-MARSHALL-NEMAHA-BROWN-CLOUD-CLAY-RILEY- POTTAWATOMIE-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-OTTAWA-DICKINSON-GEARY-MORRIS- WABAUNSEE-SHAWNEE-DOUGLAS-LYON-OSAGE-FRANKLIN-COFFEY-ANDERSON- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...MARYSVILLE...HIAWATHA...CONCORDIA... CLAY CENTER...MANHATTAN...ABILENE...JUNCTION CITY...TOPEKA... LAWRENCE...EMPORIA...OTTAWA 401 AM CDT FRI JUL 20 2012 ...HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT SATURDAY... ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO 8 PM CDT WEDNESDAY... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TOPEKA HAS ISSUED AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON SATURDAY TO 8 PM CDT WEDNESDAY. THE HEAT ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CDT SATURDAY. * TEMPERATURE...HEAT INDEX READINGS TODAY WILL BE IN THE 100 TO 105 DEGREE RANGE WITH AIR TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 98 TO 105. CONDITIONS WILL BECOME HOTTER YET FOR THE PERIOD FROM SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH HEAT INDEX READINGS RANGING FROM 104 TO 109 DEGREES EVERY DAY THROUGH THE PERIOD. * IMPACTS...A PROLONGED PERIOD OF EXPOSURE TO EXTREME HEAT CAN LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESS...INCLUDING HEAT CRAMPS...HEAT EXHAUSTION AND POTENTIALLY EVEN HEAT STROKE IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DANGEROUSLY HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY AND CAN BE LIFE THREATENING. PERSONS ARE ADVISED TO AVOID PROLONGED WORK IN THE SUN...DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM...AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE...RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK...THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY...CALL 9 1 1.