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In the peak of a Minnesota summer, the weather is hot and humid. And the month of July was trending warmer and wetter.
On Sunday, officials issued extreme heat advisories and warnings for counties across Minnesota as temperatures soared into the low 90s for much of the day. Factoring in the humidity, Sunday’s heat index in the Twin Cities Metro area climbed into the triple digits.
Temperatures in the cities across the state felt more acute than in more rural areas due to the urban heat island effect. This effect is primarily caused by human activities, such as energy consumption from buildings, vehicles, industrial processes and acres of asphalt and concrete. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the air temperature of a city with approximately 1 million people can be 1.8 to 5.4 degrees hotter than its surroundings.
With multiple factors contributing to the high heat that’s bearing down on communities across the metro area, how can we stay cool during such high temperatures?
Stay Hydrated
Staying hydrated is an essential way to avoid heat exhaustion, which kills over 2,000 people every year. Experts suggest drinking liquids before you’re thirsty. Your body can be dehydrated before you sense thirst. A general rule is to aim for between 2 to 3 liters or 8 to 12 cups of water or fruit-based liquids daily. For those who are being active in the heat, the CDC recommends an extra 1-2 cups per hour of physical activity.
Signs of dehydration include dry mouth, fatigue, headache or dizziness and muscle cramps.
Wear loosely fitted clothing
Loose, light clothing allows air to circulate freely between your skin and the fabric. Breathable fabrics also help sweat to evaporate faster, cooling your body, and prevents that sticky feeling that occurs during humid heat. Some of the best for hot weather include cotton, linen, rayon and bamboo. Some of the best colors to wear during the heat include white, yellow, grey and red. You should avoid UV absorbing colors like black, navy and forest green.
Find air-conditioned spaces
Businesses, recreation centers, and government buildings across Minnesota lend their spaces to people who want to escape the heat. Here are some of the cooling stations across our listening area:
Hennepin County Public Health Clinic: 525 Portland Ave. S, Minneapolis
South St. Anthony Rec Center: 890 Cromwell Ave., St. Paul
Eastview Rec Center: 1675 5th St. E., St. Paul
YWCA St. Paul: 375 Selby Ave., St. Paul
Northwest Como Rec Center: 1557 Huron St., St. Paul
Salvation Army East: 1019 Payne Ave., St. Paul
Orchard Rec Center: 875 Orchard Ave., St. Paul
Wilder Rec Center: 958 Jessie St., St. Paul
East Lake Library: 2727 East Lake St., Minneapolis
Arvonne Fraser Library: 1222 4th St. SE, Minneapolis
Minneapolis Central Library: 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis
Plaza Maplewood Cinema: 1847 Larpenteur Ave E., Maplewood, MN
Eastside Neighborhood Services:1700 2nd St. NE, Minneapolis
In addition to cooling centers, the Twin Cities region offers free pools, beaches and splash pads to those who want to get outside but can’t stand the heat. All spaces listed above and on Hennepin and Ramsey County’s complete lists, are open during business hours only.
Create a ‘self’ cooling home environment
Open windows on the opposite sides of your home if possible. Doing this will allow fresh air to flow through, creating a cool breeze.
Position multiple box or window fans to pull in cooler air from one side of the window and push it out the other. A ‘DIY’ air conditioner can be made with a bucket of ice or ice water placed in front of a fan. For longer use, keep extra frozen bottles of water or blocks of ice nearby.
If you have ceiling fan, make sure that it is rotating counterclockwise to push air down, creating a breeze. But remember, it’s best to turn fans off when leaving a room, as fans cool people and not rooms.
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