A previously established Code Red hot weather emergency was extended through Wednesday as a heat wave brings stifling temperatures to the region.
The alert will last from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, according to a Monday afternoon statement.
Montgomery County officials initially announced the Code Red after receiving guidance from the county’s public health office, according to a county spokesperson. A hot weather emergency is declared “when the temperature or heat index is expected to reach 100 degrees or higher” for at least two hours, according to a Montgomery County spokesperson.
The following cooling centers are open this week in Norristown and Pottstown for those in need:
• Montco Senior Adult Activities Center, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 526 George St., in Norristown. Call 610-275-1960 for more information.
• Pottstown Regional Public Library, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at 500 E. High St. in Pottstown. Call 610-970-6551 for more information.
• TriCounty Active Adult Center, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 288 Moser Road, in Pottstown. Call 610-323-5009 for more information.
Street Outreach teams are expected to distribute materials to those experiencing homelessness, including water and cooling kits, according to county officials. Call 211 or the county’s Your Way Home crisis response system at 610-278-3522 for shelter-related assistance.
A Code Red was initially set for Friday and was issued again on Monday before being extended at the direction of county officials.
Montgomery County officials initially announced the Code Red after receiving guidance from the county’s public health office, according to a county spokesperson. A hot weather emergency is declared “when the temperature or heat index is expected to reach 100 degrees or higher” for at least two hours, according to a Montgomery County spokesperson.
A Code Red was initially set for Friday and was issued again on Monday before being extended at the direction of county officials.
The alert comes as the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly, New Jersey office issued a heat advisory Monday morning for much of the region, encompassing parts of northern Delaware, southern New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania. The advisory was issued at 11 a.m. and will continue until 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Heat index values could reach up to 104 degrees in some areas, according to an advisory from the National Weather Service’s Mount Holly, New Jersey office.
Health experts noted several possible heat-related illnesses, ranging from heat stroke to heat exhaustion, with a number of symptoms identified including dehydration, cramps, fatigue, nausea, rashes, vomiting, and weakness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” the advisory states. “Take extra precautions when outside.”
“Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morningor evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke,” the advisory continued.
Additionally, people should never “leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles,” according to the National Weather Service, as “car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”
