Rain Prospects Not Impressive; At Least Some Heat Relief Today

Fingers of God

Taken Wed PM in Gibson County

Crepuscular rays

, in atmospheric optics, also known as sun rays, God’s rays, Jesus beams, or the Fingers of God, are rays of sunlight that appear to radiate from a single point in the sky. These rays, which stream through gaps in clouds or between other objects, are diverging columns of sunlit air separated by darker cloud-shadowed regions. The name comes from their frequent occurrences during crepuscular hours (those being dawn and dusk), when the contrasts between light and dark are the most obvious. Various airborne compounds scatter the sunlight and make these rays visible, due to diffraction, reflection, and scattering.

Crepuscular rays are near-parallel, but appear to diverge because of linear perspective. They often occur when objects such as mountain peaks or clouds partially shadow the sun’s rays like a cloud cover. There are three primary forms of crepuscular rays:

• Rays of light penetrating holes in low clouds (also called “Jacob’s Ladder“).
• Beams of light diverging from behind a cloud.
• Pale, pinkish or reddish rays that radiate from below the horizon. These are often mistaken for light pillars.

 - Wikipedia

A Temporary Heat-Break Before the Weekend

DAYBREAK WEATHER SUMMARY

Mainly clear skies prevailed over W.TN as the sun rose.  Temperatures were uniformally in the mid-70s just about everywhere.  Winds were already stirring from the S at 3 to 8 mph across the W-State region.  Heat advisories have been pulled back to Shelby county only as more clouds this afternoon along with a few more isolated t’storms could keep heat index values below advisory levels for the rest of us.  That being said however, it will be close enough to be another blistering day.  Highs mainly upper 90s and heat index values around 105º.

Bark (Thunder) but No Bite (Rain)!

5:50pm – Storm clouds gathered to the northwest of my N. Jackson station.  Radar indicated they were in Haywood, Crockett and Gibson Counties.  Boiling, dark clouds, lightning and thunder….but no rain!  The temperature before the sun went behind those clouds was 99º…that was the high in N. Jackson.  At 3:18pm CDT, the heat index here reached 111º.    ( Sharing a few photos from this afternoon)

Radar Image from StormLab Doppler Radar

Looking WSW

Looking SW

Looking NW

Looking N

Heat Safety – Red Cross

• Heat wave: Prolonged period of excessive heat and humidity. The National Weather Service steps up its procedures to alert the public during these periods of excessive heat and humidity.
• Heat index: A number in degrees Fahrenheit (F) that tells how hot it really feels when relative humidity is added to the actual air temperature. Exposure to full sunshine can increase the heat index by 15 degrees F.
• Heat cramps: Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms due to heavy exertion. Although heat cramps are the least severe, they are an early signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.
• Heat exhaustion: Heat exhaustion typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. Blood flow to the skin increases, causing blood flow to decrease to the vital organs. This results in a form of mild shock. If not treated, the victim may suffer heat stroke.
• Heat stroke: Heat stroke is life-threatening. The victim’s temperature control system, which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and death may result if the body is not cooled quickly.
• Sunstroke: Another term for heat stroke.

If a Heat Wave Is Predicted or Happening…

• Slow down. Avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.
• Stay indoors as much as possible. If air conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor, out of the sunshine. Try to go to a public building with air conditioning each day for several hours. Remember, electric fans do not cool the air, but they do help sweat evaporate, which cools your body.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Light colors will reflect away some of the sun’s energy.
• Drink plenty of water regularly and often. Your body needs water to keep cool.
• Drink plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty.
• Water is the safest liquid to drink during heat emergencies. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They can make you feel good briefly, but make the heat’s effects on your body worse. This is especially true about beer, which dehydrates the body.
• Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid foods that are high in protein, which increase metabolic heat.
• Avoid using salt tablets unless directed to do so by a physician.

Signals of Heat Emergencies…

• Heat exhaustion: Cool, moist, pale, or flushed skin; heavy sweating; headache; nausea or vomiting; dizziness; and exhaustion. Body temperature will be near normal.
• Heat stroke: Hot, red skin; changes in consciousness; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid, shallow breathing. Body temperature can be very high– as high as 105 degrees F. If the person was sweating from heavy work or exercise, skin may be wet; otherwise, it will feel dry.

Treatment of Heat Emergencies

• Heat cramps: Get the person to a cooler place and have him or her rest in a comfortable position. Lightly stretch the affected muscle and replenish fluids. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids with alcohol or caffeine in them, as they can make conditions worse.
• Heat exhaustion: Get the person out of the heat and into a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and apply cool, wet cloths, such as towels or sheets. If the person is conscious, give cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Give a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. Do not give liquids that contain alcohol or caffeine. Let the victim rest in a comfortable position, and watch carefully for changes in his or her condition.
• Heat stroke: Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation. Help is needed fast. Call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the body. Immerse victim in a cool bath, or wrap wet sheets around the body and fan it. Watch for signals of breathing problems. Keep the person lying down and continue to cool the body any way you can. If the victim refuses water or is vomiting or there are changes in the level of consciousness, do not give anything to eat or drink.

Rain Chances Remain in the Forecast!

Bowing Line of Thunderstorms Heading South

Watching for Potential for T’storms to Move Into NW TN Later Tonight

Cloud Canopy Providing “Shade” for Some Areas

3:35pm – A complex of thunderstorms over NW MS is providing part of W. TN with some “shade” from the heat (See visible sat image below).  The NWS has now extended the Heat Advisory into Monday.

Heat – The Big Story

DAYBREAK WEATHER SUMMARY

A muggy morning over W. TN.  Temps are in the mid-70s and there is a considerable amount of cloudiness over the region from dying thunderstorms to our west.  Today’s weather big weather story  (as it will be for the next several days) will be the heat.  Temperatures today in 95-100º over most of W. TN along with dewpoints in the mid-70s will result in heat index values in the 105-110º range.  Please utilize heat safety tips!  It appears this heat gig will continue through mid-week.