Heat
"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge."
-- Raymond Chandler, "Red Wind"
***
"It was past noon, and very hot. The bar was full of reflected river light, with dancing venins of gold. ... The light was the light of the very early afternoon -- everything stoked up, the blaze got truly going, but with a hint of the blaze about to consume itself."
-- V.S. Naipaul, "A Bend in the River"
***
-- New York Daily News
***
BERGEN-EASTERN PASSAIC-ESSEX-HUDSON-UNION-
1142 AM EDT TUE JUL 18 2006
AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EDT THIS
EVENING.
HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL TOP OUT IN THE UPPER 90S TO AROUND
100 DEGREES TODAY...WITH HEAT INDICES REACHING 105 TO 107 DEGREES
DURING THE AFTERNOON. MAKE PLANS TO CHECK ON THOSE MOST
SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE HEAT SUCH AS THE ELDERLY AND VERY YOUNG. PETS
WILL ALSO NEED YOUR SPECIAL ATTENTION DURING THIS TIME.
AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN HIGH HUMIDITIES ARE
EXPECTED TO COMBINE WITH HOT TEMPERATURES TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE IT
IS 105 DEGREES OR GREATER. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN
AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE SUN...AND CHECK UP ON
RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.
-- Excessive Heat Warning for northeastern New Jersey
***
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
342 PM EDT TUE JUL 18 2006
...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...
A VERY HOT AND HUMID AIR MASS WILL REMAIN OVER OUR REGION EARLY THIS
EVENING. THE COMBINATION OF THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL RESULT IN
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. THE HEAT WILL DIMINISH AFTER SUNSET.
HOWEVER, HUMIDITY WILL STILL REMAIN UNCOMFORTABLE. ...
STAY PREPARED FOR THE HEAT. WEAR LOOSE FITTING AND LIGHT COLORED
CLOTHING. DRINK PLENTY OF NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES TO PREVENT
DEHYDRATION. IF POSSIBLE, AVOID STRENUOUS ACTIVITY DURING THE
HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY, WHICH IS TYPICALLY BETWEEN 1:00 AND 6:00 PM.
REMEMBER THAT THE ELDERLY, THE INFIRM AND THE VERY YOUNG ARE MOST
SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT RELATED HEALTH PROBLEMS. BE SURE TO CHECK ON
YOUR ELDERLY NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES.
MAKE PROVISIONS FOR PETS AND ANIMALS BY INSURING THAT THEY HAVE
PLENTY OF COOL WATER TO DRINK AND SHADE IN WHICH TO REST.
-- Excessive Heat Warning, Philadelphia Area
***
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
334 PM EDT TUE JUL 18 2006
... THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS HOT
IS TO DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS. WATER IS YOUR BEST CHOICE AS IT
PREVENTS DEHYDRATION. IF YOU ARE WORKING OR EXERCISING OUTSIDE
AND FEEL DIZZY OR ARE GETTING MUSCLE CRAMPS...STOP IMMEDIATELY
AND SEEK MEDICAL HELP. THE ELDERLY AND YOUNG ARE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE
TO HEAT RELATED INJURIES...CHECK ON THEM OFTEN. NEVER LEAVE PETS
UNATTENDED IN AUTOMOBILES - TEMPERATURES CAN SOAR TO 130 DEGREES
IN A MATTER OF MINUTES.
--Heat Advisory for Washington, D.C.-Baltimore area
***
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WAKEFIELD VA
1136 AM EDT TUE JUL 18 2006
... A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS
EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY
WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE
POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS...STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED
ROOM...STAY OUT OF THE DIRECT SUNLIGHT...AND CHECK UP ON
RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.
THE ELDERLY...YOUNG CHILDREN...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK ARE THE MOST
LIKELY TO BE IMPACTED BY HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES AND DEHYDRATION.
CAUTION SHOULD BE EXERCISED IF YOU PLAN TO BE OUTSIDE. DRINK
PLENTY OF WATER. LIMIT YOUR EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT...USE
SUNSCREEN AND WEAR LIGHT COLORED CLOTHING.
Heat Advisory for central and southern Virginia and North Carolina
***
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
118 PM CDT TUE JUL 18 2006
.HIGH TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN IN THE 90S SINCE LAST WEDNESDAY...
AND VERY HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH TOMORROW
AND THURSDAY. THE LAST TWO DAYS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY BRUTAL...
WITH MANY LOCATIONS IN KANSAS AND MISSOURI REPORTING 100 DEGREE
TEMPERATURES WITH HIGH LEVELS OF HUMIDITY. WITH DAY AFTER DAY OF
EXCESSIVE HEAT... THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF THE OPPRESSIVE
CONDITIONS WILL TAKE ITS TOLL ON THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE WITH POOR
HEALTH. ...
AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN THE COMBINATION OF HOT
TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY IS EXPECTED TO RESULT IN HEAT
INDICES EXCEEDING 105 DEGREES FOR AT LEAST 3 HOURS...FOR THREE OR
MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE HEAT...AND
BE SURE TO DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. ALSO AVOID ANY STRENUOUS
OUTDOOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY...PARTICULARLY DURING THE HOTTEST
AFTERNOON HOURS.
CHILDREN...THE ELDERLY...AND PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES...ARE
USUALLY THE FIRST TO SUFFER FROM THE HEAT. HEAT EXHAUSTION...OR
IN EXTREME CASES HEAT STROKE...MAY RESULT FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE
TO THESE CONDITIONS. BE SURE TO PERIODICALLY CHECK ON PEOPLE WHO
ARE MOST AT RISK. SEEK OUT AN AIR CONDITIONED LOCATION DURING THE
HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW DOES NOT HAVE
ACCESS TO AIR CONDITIONING...CONTACT YOUR LOCAL OFFICIALS TO
INQUIRE ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF COOLING CENTERS IN YOUR AREA.
Excessive Heat Warning, Kansas City area
***
URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ST LOUIS MO
457 AM CDT TUE JUL 18 2006
... FOR THOSE LIVING IN NON-AIR CONDITIONED BUILDINGS...THE DANGERS OF HEAT
RELATED ILLNESSES WILL BE INCREASING DRAMATICALLY OVER THE NEXT
FEW DAYS BECAUSE OF THE PERSISTENT HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS.
FROM TIME TO TIME...BE SURE TO CHECK ON FRIENDS AND RELATIVES
THAT DO NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONING...ESPECIALLY IF THEY LIVE
ALONE. OPEN WINDOWS AND USE FANS TO MOVE THE AIR...AND IF
POSSIBLE TRY TO GO TO AN AIR CONDITIONED LOCATION FOR A FEW HOURS
EACH DAY TO GIVE YOUR BODY A BREAK FROM THE HEAT. ...
IF YOU HAVE AIR-CONDITIONING...USE IT! IF COST IS A
CONCERN...UTILITIES AND OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES WILL BE ABLE TO HELP
WITH THE ADDED EXPENSE. FOR PEOPLE IN THE ST. LOUIS METROPOLITAN
AREA NEEDING INFORMATION ON COOLING CENTERS OR ENERGY ASSISTANCE
RELATED TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT...YOU CAN CALL OPERATION WEATHER
SURVIVAL AT THE UNITED WAY OF GREATER ST. LOUIS. THE NUMBER IS
800-427-4626.
Excessive Heat Warning for east-central Missouri and west-central Illinois
This is really rough. Ice on the back of the neck and wrists helps. I hear it's pretty nice where you are.
Posted by: Marie | Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 04:46 PM
Yeah, It was hot here today. We went to the Bronx Zoo with the kiddies tonight after that hot day. It was kind of miserable--the weather that is. Right now (10:44pm) a front is moving through and it should cool things off for tomorrow. Marie: Did the cold water thing on the back of the neck. That did work! Also, drank plenty of wine. That didn't work as well. Cheers.
Posted by: jb | Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 07:44 PM
jb - glad to know the neck thing worked. As for wine, well, after reading Dan's selected quote, we're thinking it'd be best to wait 'til fall. (Something about alcohol, necks, knives, and the heat. I don't know; I'm loopy from the heat.)
Posted by: Marie | Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 09:37 PM
Digressing here.... The Chandler quote reminded me of Didion on the Santa Anas:
There is something uneasy in the Los Angeles air this afternoon, some unnatural stillness, some tension. What it means is that tonight a Santa Ana will begin to blow, a hot wind from the northeast whining down through the Cajon and San Gorgonio Passes, blowing up sand storms out along Route 66, drying the hills and the nerves to flash point. For a few days now we will see smoke back in the canyons, and hear sirens in the night. I have neither heard nor read that a Santa Ana is due, but I know it, and almost everyone I have seen today knows it too. We know it because we feel it. The baby frets. The maid sulks. I rekindle a waning argument with the telephone company, then cut my losses and lie down, given over to whatever it is in the air. To live with the Santa Ana is to accept, consciously or unconsciously, a deeply mechanistic view of human behavior.
Posted by: Pete Danko | Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 10:46 PM
Love that Raymond Chandler quote.
K-
Posted by: Kem White | Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 07:46 AM