The Center Square) — The Lake Mead area outside of Las Vegas is under an Extreme Heat Watch this week as August kicks off with above-average summer temperatures.
The extreme temperatures are not unfamiliar to Southern Nevada residents this time of year, but paired with wildfires across the state, residents are being cautioned to plan accordingly.
“People should expect higher temperatures. You can get heat stroke and heat exhaustion if you spend too much time outside under the Extreme Heat Warning,” Samuel Meltzer, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Las Vegas, told The Center Square. “Make sure you’re hydrated. It’s also a good idea to go outside early in the morning, before it gets too hot.”
The Extreme Heat Watch is in place for from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the Colorado River Valley.
“It covers the Colorado River Valley because it’s lower elevation, and they tend to get higher temperatures there,” said Meltzer. “The watch is not for Las Vegas itself. It covers areas like Bullhead City and Lake Mead. People will want to be aware we have an extreme heat watch for those areas.”
While Southern Nevada is familiar with scorching temperatures in the summer, Meltzer said the Extreme Heat Watch is about more than just the highest temperature in any given day.
“When we’re thinking about Extreme Heat Watches, we’re looking at how long extreme temperatures are going to exist. Similarly, we look at how cool it gets at night, because that’s when people can cool off and recover from a hot day.”
With some areas like Bullhead City expected to reach temperatures between 115 and 120, Meltzer warned local residents and people coming from Las Vegas for vacation to take basic precautions.
“If possible, avoid going outside during the middle of the day. Check up on your elderly neighbors,” he said. “Of course, don’t leave kids or pets in a hot car. Always make sure everybody’s out of the car. Wear light clothing.”
Despite the high temperatures and statewide fire warnings, Lake Mead and the area outside of Las Vegas face no particular fire risk with this latest extreme weather warning.
“For fire weather, we’re looking at low humidity and high winds,” said Meltzer. “When it’s dry out, it’s easier for plants to catch on fire, and when it’s windy and dry, that means it can spread and put people at risk.”
“Like any time of the year, if you’re going to be outside make sure that any fire is completely put out — campfire or grill, and that all ashes are disposed of properly,” the meterologist said. “Chains on trucks can also be dangerous and cause a fire if they drag along the road and are not secured, potentially sparking.”
As the Silver State faces some of the highest temperatures for the season, meteorologists stress the importance of people taking the basic safety steps and staying cool when possible. For more information, see the National Weather Service website: www.weather.gov/vef.
