New Heat Warning System Adds Magenta for Most Extreme Conditions
Washington – A new heat warning system has been launched by the National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The system uses a seven-day forecast and a color-coded scale to alert Americans to dangerous heat conditions.
The system includes five categories:
*
Pale green:
Little to no risk*
Yellow:
Minor risk*
Orange:
Moderate risk*
Red:
Major risk*
Magenta:
Deadliest riskThe system is based on science-set numerical thresholds that take into account local weather data, climatology, and health data. Heat is the number one weather-related cause of death in the United States, and the new system is designed to help reduce deaths by providing better warnings and planning tools.
How to Use the System
You can enter your ZIP code on the CDC dashboard (https://www.cdc.gov/heatrisk) to get more focus on health risks and air quality. You can also zoom in on the weather service map online (https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heatrisk/) for more detailed forecasts and explanations. Both versions include heat risk for the next seven days and there is a Spanish edition.
Heat Precautions
Even as heat gets worse with climate change, society can try to reduce deaths by better warnings and better planning. Doctors should talk with people before the summer begins about what vulnerable people should do in advance before heat waves. For example, some heart medications interact with outdoor heat and people shouldn’t stop taking their medications, but they could take other precautions, as can teenagers with asthma.
Seasonal Forecast
The Weather Service’s seasonal forecast for May and June shows likely above-average temperatures for much of the United States. “So as summer approaches, it’s going to be as hot as ever and even more so if we get above average.”
“Heat waves are getting hotter, longer, more frequent and you’re getting less relief at night,” Graham said, citing numerous studies in the past decade. “So it’s becoming increasingly serious.”
