45 minutes ago, birdguy said:

At Twentynine Palms we used to go sidewinder hunting in 105 F heat with no more than a long sleeve shirt and a canteen full of water.

Noel

Was that for a useful purpose or just for fun?

44 minutes ago, birdguy said:

At Twentynine Palms we used to go sidewinder hunting in 105 F heat with no more than a long sleeve shirt and a canteen full of water.

Noel

No pants??  A sidewinder bite on the whosywhammy might hurt a bit! 🐍

Was just doing some reading on the heat waves of 1783, 1808, and a prolonged (May-Sept) heat wave of 1911 in the UK.  Clearly, temps approaching 40C are something that happens rarely in the UK, but historically it is certainly not a new phenomena.

Something as simple as a small electric fan can make all the difference when a heat wave strikes--if you live in a place without air conditioning, having one available should be a part of basic environmental preparation, especially if you or a household member is potentially at risk.  Of course when these conditions occur, the stores empty out of these items quickly...failure to plan ahead results in too much dependence on just-in-time mass availability of critical tools.

People who live in an earthquake, hurricane, tornado or wildfire zone know (or should know) to keep basic disaster supplies available...this should be no different for other known occasional environmental threats like severe bouts of heat and cold.

At least today, weather forecasting allows for some meaningful lead time for warnings. 

1 hour ago, Reader said:

Was that for a useful purpose or just for fun?

Just for fun Reader.  Bored Marines on a Sunday afternoon.  We'd fill a fuse can with dozen or so and then release them before returning to the barracks.  We'd hold the head down with a stick and grab them on the neck and drop them into the can.  They were easy to find after it got hot.  They were anyplace they found shade.

Noel

1 hour ago, charliearon said:

No pants??  A sidewinder bite on the whosywhammy might hurt a bit! 

Bare feet too Charlie!  We stepped on them to catch them.  The ankles were at risk but not the whosywhammy.

Noel

3 hours ago, birdguy said:

Long term - short term phooey!

People who are not used to hot weather will suffer through it.  People not used to cold weather will suffer through it.  People not used to damp climates will suffer through it.  People not used to dry climates will suffer through it.

Put an Aleut in the Amazon and it will not be comfortable for him.  Likewise put an Amazon aborigine in Nunavut and it will not be comfortable for him.  But in either case each will adapt.

In any case acclimation is the key.  After a long period in any climate a person will adapt.

Of course you're right, Noel.  You're being rational and logical and you and others are giving sound advice about precautions to take during a heat wave.

There is another agenda with things like this, however, as evidenced by hyperbolic language and statements such as "danger to roads and infrastructure", "extreme risk to life and property", "unprecedented", etc. etc.

If there was an extreme cold event in the UK you wouldn't be hearing about it.

Dave

4 hours ago, dave2013 said:

You're equating very long, very cold and brutal winters in Siberia with a 3-day heat wave in Europe?

Really?

Dave

 

No, not "really".  I'm not doing anything of the sort. I'm merely empathising how people that aren't adapted to a particular temperature fair worse. 

The Weather Person at the BBC

1 hour ago, Bob Scott said:

Something as simple as a small electric fan can make all the difference when a heat wave strikes--if you live in a place without air conditioning, having one available should be a part of basic environmental preparation, especially if you or a household member is potentially at risk.  Of course when these conditions occur, the stores empty out of these items quickly...failure to plan ahead results in too much dependence on just-in-time mass availability of critical tools.

 

Yes exactly. We have a couple of powerful fans, and they make a big difference. The heat doesn't seem to bother me much so I leave them for my daughter to use, she hates the heat. 

49 minutes ago, dave2013 said:

There is another agenda with things like this, however, as evidenced by hyperbolic language and statements such as "danger to roads and infrastructure", "extreme risk to life and property", "unprecedented", etc. etc.

If there was an extreme cold event in the UK you wouldn't be hearing about it.

 

Yes you would, the media go bonkers when its cold. And its the media that are doing the same now. The authorities on the other hand are doing the right thing and issuing the appropriate warnings. If they didn't, if they said nothing, then they would be chastised for not issuing warnings.

17 minutes ago, martin-w said:

That's a lot of vulnerable people. So warnings are justified.

Do you have small, portable air conditioners for sale in the UK?  I've seen them in Italy for 300-600 Euro.  They're enough to cool down a room.

That and water are all you need to prevent 99.9% of deaths during a brief heat wave.

Dave

 

1 minute ago, dave2013 said:

Do you have small, portable air conditioners for sale in the UK?  I've seen them in Italy for 300-600 Euro.  They're enough to cool down a room.

 

Dave

 

 

Yes, but we cant expect all the vulnerable people in the UK to run out and spend money on portable air conditioning units. I've seen them from £250 upward.

 

Quote

That and water are all you need to prevent 99.9% of deaths during a brief heat wave.

 

Deaths can certainly be prevented, that's the entire point of the authorities issuing warnings and advice. The authorities are of course advising people to stay hydrated, along with other advice. 

No issue for me, as I'm aware of how to look after myself in the heat, and the temp wont go above 30 as I'm coastal. 

I missed this question on my SAT exam 😞

 

It's very hot today. Do I therefore:

1 drink more water?

2 invite friends over?

3 jog because it's not so crowded?

4 fire up the barbeque?

1 hour ago, martin-w said:

And this form of short term weather event (heat waves) are getting longer, more severe and more frequent.

So are forest fires.  They are destroying square miles of forest in the Western US and now in France and Spain.

Noel

I remember when I was a teenager in Texas before we had central air conditioning.  I had a portable evaporative cooler in my bedroom.  It was about the size and shape of a box fan with some additional plumbing.  Enough to drop the temperature a few degrees to something more reasonable.

At the time, schools used large outdoor evaporative coolers to keep the classrooms cool.

Of course, they only work well when the humidity is low.

Hook