- A high level of humidity and hotness in the weather of a specific place, leads to heat waves.
- Heat waves occur when the maximum day temperature of a country or place increases by 5C.
- A heat wave appears due to max hot weather conditions exceeding five consecutive days and after those 5 days, it can last further 2 or more days.
- Many countries have their own specific centigrades by which they think that now the heat wave has occurred.
- One of the major reasons causing it (heat waves) is the trapping of hot air in the atmosphere due to the high pressure system.
- This system presses the air downward forcefully, making an umbrella/dome that collects heat in it and ultimately causes severe hot and humid weather that we call heat waves.
What is the definition of a Heat Wave?
- The heat wave is defined as very unusual and uncomfortable hot weather exceeding five consecutive days.
What temperature is a Heat Wave?
- According to the World Meteorological Organization, on average the maximum temperature of a place raised by five centigrades will be considered as a heat wave.
- On the other hand, there is no particular temperature for occurrence of a heat wave; in fact, several countries have made their own particular temperature standard in this regard.
What causes a Heat Wave?
- Three major reasons for droughts (heat waves) are as follows:
- Trapped air in the atmosphere at high-pressure systems in the form of a heat dome.
- Global Warming caused by Humans.
- Quick Climate Changes.
What does a Heat Wave look like?
- On the human body heat waves can appear in the form of heat rashes causing itchiness and red bumps on the skin.
- Heat Waves can give you burning sensations which further leads your body to intense sweating and flushing.
Why is there a Heat Wave?
- Heat waves are usually caused by trapped air in the atmosphere due to a high-pressure system.
- This system works like an umbrella, underneath which a lot of air gets trapped. This air causes suffocation in the environment and ultimately causes a severe heat wave.
- A prolonged period of this trapped air exceeding 5 days will be considered as a heat wave.
- Moreover, another reason for a heat wave could be climate change. Quick climate changes can lead to extreme heat waves.
- Other than those reasons, humans are also involved in this matter through global warming.
How long does a Heat Wave last?
- After consideration, heat waves can last up to two or more than two days on average.
Are Heat Waves Dangerous?
- YES, heat waves could be dangerous, even to death.
- Heat waves can cause several common to severe long-term diseases: dizziness, intense thirst, muscle cramps, fainting, heat strokes, headaches, water retention, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, hyperthermia, and a lot more.
Can a Heat Wave kill you?
- YES, heat waves can cause fatal diseases and ultimately can kill you directly or indirectly due to illnesses such as; hyperthermia or heat strokes.
Can a Heat Wave make you sick?
- YES, it can make you sick by putting you in the following disease:
- Heat Strokes.
- Muscle Cramps.
- Headaches.
- Water Retention.
- Heavy Sweating.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Weakness.
What is the highest Heat Wave ever recorded?
- The highest ever recorded heat wave was in the Death Valley (Eastern California) where they recorded unbelievable hot weather of 54.4c.
What to do during a Heat Wave?
- Following precautionary measurements should be taken during a heat wave:
- Slow down your intense work routine during a breakthrough to a heat wave.
- Avoid taking proteins or any other food having a high source of heat such as meat.
- Stay hydrated and drink a lot of water or anything that is cold enough to keep you hydrated and cool inside.
- Don’t forget to keep yourself in any conditioned place so that you keep yourself cool from outside too.
- Try to stay inside as much as possible and don’t go under the sun other than in case of emergency.
- Avoid sitting in a car for a prolonged time as it also gets heated up so soon.
- Last but not the least, don’t wear heavy or dark clothes, always put on light coloured/weight clothes.
How often do Heat Waves occur?
- In the 1960s, a maximum of two heat waves used to occur per year but now the ratio has increased to 3 – 4 times occurring per year in the US which means six heat waves per year.
- But increasing global warming may cause increments in the ratio of heat waves in the US and the rest of the World.
How to Survive a Heat Wave?
- Surviving a heat wave is not that difficult if you follow precautions properly. These precautions include:
- Keeping yourself hydrated by plenty of liquids.
- Wearing light (weight/colour) clothes.
- Avoiding high heat source food (proteins, meats).
- Sitting under high conditioned roofs.
- By avoiding going under the sun, bare head.
Why is there a Heat Wave right now?
- Currently, the heat wave is caused by a heat dome above the areas of North America which is pressing warm air downwards affecting the air on the ground.
- This heat dome is making the environment suffocating for the region it is in as it does not allow the wind or clouds to make some sort of cover to normalize the weather condition.
What is considered a Heat Wave?
- Highly abnormal or unbearable hot weather suffocating humans (sometimes to death) is described as a heat wave.
- This is caused by trapped air in the atmosphere at high-pressure systems.
- According to standard observation, heat waves should be considered at the increment of temperature up to 5 centigrades (the maximum recorded temperature in a day at a particular place) exceeding 5 consecutive days.
Why Heat Wave in California – What is causing Heat Wave in California?
- A megadrought has hit California and the surrounding areas; Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming and Utah.
- These are the only places around the globe that are suffering such high temperature (134) right now.
- The reason for the heat wave in these areas is “low soil moisture”. This allows high-pressure systems to easily trap hot air causing suffocation and severe hot weather in the US.
