Etowah County weather this week: building heat as students head back to class

GADSDEN, AL – Heat builds across Etowah County through the week just as students head back to class, with highs climbing from near 92 Tuesday to 99 by Monday and heat index values reaching 106 on the first day of school.

UPDATE, Aug. 11: The Weather Service raised the back half of the week after this story first published. Friday through Monday now run 97, 98, 98 and 99, two to three degrees hotter than the original forecast.

Etowah County and Gadsden City students return to class Wednesday, Aug. 12. That puts thousands of children at bus stops, in car lines and on practice fields during the hottest stretch of the forecast. No Heat Advisory is in effect for the county as of Tuesday morning, but the National Weather Service office in Birmingham has said a Moderate Heat Risk may develop Wednesday and last through the end of the week.

What is the forecast for Etowah County this week?

Tuesday brings a high near 92 and a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly after 1 p.m., with heat index values as high as 105 and a low around 73 overnight.

Wednesday, the first day of school, is the wettest day on the board. A slight chance of showers gives way to a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10 a.m., with a high near 93 and heat index values as high as 106.

From there the rain shuts off and the heat takes over. Thursday reaches about 95 under mostly sunny skies. Friday climbs to 97, Saturday and Sunday each reach 98, and Monday tops out near 99. Overnight lows hold near 76 from Thursday on, which means little relief after dark.

Heat indices topped 100 degrees across the area last week as well, as GadsdenThrive reported Friday.

Why does my phone say it feels like 106?

This week it may say that because it is that. The Weather Service itself has 106 on the board for Wednesday afternoon.

Still, not every “feels like” number is the same number.

The heat index published by the Weather Service uses air temperature and humidity, measured in the shade. Weather apps and smart speakers often show a proprietary index instead, such as AccuWeather’s RealFeel, which also factors in direct sunlight, cloud cover and wind. Those readings usually run higher.

Neither one is wrong. They measure different things. The practical takeaway is the same either way. Standing in full sun on a 93-degree afternoon in Alabama humidity is hard on a body, and it is harder on a child’s body.

Why does heat hit children harder?

Children are not small adults when it comes to heat. The National Weather Service says their bodies have not developed the ability to regulate internal temperature efficiently, and that the younger the child, the more severe the effects.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a child’s body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult’s. Heatstroke begins when core body temperature reaches about 104 degrees.

Children also tend to keep playing. A kindergartner at recess or a middle schooler waiting on a bus will often push through early warning signs that an adult would stop for.

What can parents do at the bus stop and car line?

Send a full water bottle every day, and send it filled with water rather than sports drinks or soda. Dress children in light colored, loose fitting clothing. A hat with a brim helps at an unshaded bus stop.

Encourage children to drink before they feel thirsty. Thirst is a late signal. A common guideline during outdoor activity is a few gulps every 15 to 20 minutes, plus water before starting and after finishing. Younger children need reminders, not just access to a fountain.

If a bus stop sits in full sun, wait in the shade nearby and step out when the bus comes into view.

Wednesday afternoon dismissal lands in the same window as the storm chances, so pack a rain jacket alongside the water bottle. Lightning can strike miles from the rain itself, so children should go indoors or into a vehicle at the first rumble of thunder and stay there for 30 minutes after the last one.

What about practices and outdoor activities?

The Alabama High School Athletic Association uses the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature as its preferred measurement of heat stress. WBGT accounts for humidity, sun and wind, not just air temperature, and AHSAA guidelines call for activity modifications based on the reading. Where a WBGT device is not available, the heat index can be measured at the activity site instead.

The association’s recommendations include cooling zones for outdoor activities, cold water immersion available on site, unrestricted access to water and an emergency action plan at every school.

Thursday through Monday are the days to watch. Rain chances drop and highs run from the mid to the upper 90s with full sun, which is the combination that pushes readings into the range where practice must be shortened or moved. Football season opens Aug. 20, so those practice days fall squarely in this stretch.

What are the warning signs of heat illness?

Guidance from the National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes three stages parents and coaches should know. They escalate, and the third one is a 911 call.

Heat cramps come first. Painful muscle spasms, usually in the legs or abdomen, during or after activity, along with heavy sweating. Stop the activity, move to a cool place and give water or a sports drink. Do not return to play until the cramps are gone.

Heat exhaustion is the middle stage. It often shows up as heavy sweating, cool and clammy skin, muscle cramps, headache, dizziness, nausea or unusual tiredness. The agencies advise moving the child to a cool place, loosening clothing, applying cool wet cloths and giving small sips of water. If symptoms get worse or last longer than an hour, seek medical help.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency. The Weather Service and CDC list warning signs that include a body temperature of 103 degrees or higher, hot skin, confusion, slurred speech, and skin that may be red and dry rather than sweaty. The absence of sweating is a key difference from heat exhaustion. Call 911, move the child to a cooler place and begin cooling the body while help is on the way. Do not give fluids to someone who is confused or cannot swallow.

Look before you lock

The Weather Service says the temperature inside a parked vehicle can rise 20 degrees in as little as 10 minutes and 50 degrees in an hour. Cracking the windows does little to slow it.

Never leave a child alone in a vehicle, not for a minute. Check the back seat every time before walking away. Place a phone, bag or badge in the back seat as a reminder. Ask a childcare provider to call if a child does not arrive as expected. Lock parked cars at home so children cannot climb in while playing. If you see a child alone in a hot vehicle, call 911.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Heat Advisory in effect for Etowah County? Not as of Tuesday morning. GadsdenThrive will post any advisory, warning or severe thunderstorm warning issued for the county.

Which day is hottest? Monday, Aug. 17, with a high near 99. Saturday and Sunday each reach 98 and Friday reaches 97.

How hot will it feel on the first day of school? Heat index values reach as high as 106 Wednesday, with an air temperature near 93.

Which day is most likely to be stormy? Wednesday, the first day of school, with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10 a.m.

What is the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke? Heat exhaustion involves heavy sweating, cool clammy skin, dizziness and nausea. Heat stroke involves confusion, hot skin, a temperature of 103 degrees or higher, and often no sweating at all. Heat stroke requires a 911 call.

How much water should a child drink during outdoor activity? A common guideline is a few gulps every 15 to 20 minutes during activity, plus water before starting and after finishing. Younger children need reminders, not just access.

Where can I check the forecast myself? The Weather Service publishes the Gadsden point forecast and local radar at weather.gov/bmx.

Sources: forecast data from the National Weather Service office in Birmingham, point forecast issued Aug. 11. Heat illness and child heat safety guidance from the National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vehicle heatstroke figures from the National Weather Service and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Practice guidelines from the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Read more Gadsden area weather from GadsdenThrive.