Indiana, Kentucky Heatwave: Dangerous Temperatures Ahead

It's hot. So. So. Sooo hot.

Mother Nature can be so hateful. She starts off with those perfect 73-degree days, teasing us with the sweetness of spring, only to crank up the heat just when we're settling in. According to ABC News, a heat dome settling over the country is about to break records for temperatures across the Northeast and Midwest.

The Ohio Valley could experience the most impactful heat wave of the 21st century. Louisville, Kentucky, is forecast to hit 94 degrees on Wednesday, 97 on Thursday and 99 on Friday. -ABC News

Heat Wave Forecast

The National Weather Service is predicting some extremely hot weather over the next few days. Here's what it's going to look like in the Tri-State.

This Afternoon: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 3pm and 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. South wind around 9 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. South southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 91. South southeast wind 3 to 6 mph.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. Light southeast wind.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Light southeast wind.
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Calm wind.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. Calm wind.
Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 77. South southwest wind 3 to 6 mph.
Sunday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. West southwest wind 6 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Sunday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 92. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph.

Air Quality Action Day on Thursday

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has called for an Air Quality Action Day for high levels of Ozone in the air for Thursday June 20th for the following Southwest Indiana counties: Vanderburgh, Posey, Warrick, Spencer, Gibson, and Pike.

An Ozone Alert is issued when a combination of high temperatures, light winds and other factors are expected to produce conditions where high levels of ozone emissions may exceed federally mandated standards.

The NWS is asking everyone to help reduce their ozone emissions by turning off your engine if you need to idle for more than 30 seconds, avoiding refueling your vehicle until after 7 PM, and setting your AC to 75 or above. The very young and old, and those with health conditions should also avoid working or playing outdoors.

What's the Big Deal?

Now, you might be thinking, "So what? Summer's supposed to be hot." The issue is that climate change has altered our heat patterns, making summers hotter. Nights offer little relief due to higher humidity and the spread of urban areas. Surfaces like asphalt and concrete absorb heat during the day and radiate it back at night.

While tornadoes and hurricanes grab headlines for their dramatic impact, heat-related deaths quietly outnumber all other weather-related fatalities in the US, except during catastrophic events like Hurricane Katrina and the April 2011 tornado outbreak. According to NOAA, an average of 150 people die each year in the United States due to heat-related causes, with a single heat wave in the 1990s claiming over 1,000 lives. Currently, lawmakers are urging the federal government to update laws so FEMA declare extreme heat a natural disaster and provide federal assistance during heat waves.

Read More: Is the St. Louis Zoo Worth the Drive from Indiana or Kentucky?

What to Do If You Need to Cool Down

If you find yourself without a way to cool down during the day, there are places you can go to cool down including:

• Homeless shelters
• Community centers
• Libraries
• Box stores
• Malls
• Churches