Southeast Michigan is bracing for a heat wave slated to bring record temperatures through the rest of the work week.
The National Weather predicts heat index values across a large swath of the state could exceed 105 degrees in some areas Tuesday through Thursday.
“Increasingly hot and humid conditions develop today, with peak afternoon heat indices reaching the mid- to upper-90s,” agency officials said.
As the heat arrived Monday, Sarah Mather was visiting Metro Detroit from Cincinnati, Ohio. She and her two children chose to beat the heat at the splash pad at Heritage Park in Farmington Hills.
Mather said she’s going to be intentional about staying out of the heat and giving her children things to do this week. They plan to visit Cass Lake on Tuesday and an indoor sand playground later, she said.
“We thought about going downtown (Detroit) to the new waterfront park, too, which also has a splash pad,” said Mather, 36.
While Mather acknowledged the heat, she said Cincinnati gets muggy “to the point where you can’t breathe.”
“It’s refreshing coming up here,” she said. “It’s hot, don’t get me wrong. But it’s not quite as muggy.”
Heat index to climb near 100
NWS meteorologists predict the heat index — the high temperature combined with the relative humidity — will make conditions feel like it’s 92 to 102 in some places on Monday, according to authorities.
Officials said the indices for most of the region are expected to fall short of requiring the service to issue a heat advisory because of “cloud cover and marine influence.”
Still, some areas west of Interstate 75 could see heat indices briefly touch 100 Monday afternoon and evening, the NWS said.
“While temperatures during the day will be dangerous, the lack of any relief from the heat and humidity at night can be especially stifling and even deadly, especially for those who don’t have air conditioning,” Matt Benz, a meteorologist for AccuWeather, said in a statement on Monday.
Near-record heat
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for parts of central, south central, southwest, and west central Michigan, which takes effect at 2 p.m. on Monday and lasts until 8 p.m. on Thursday.
Detroit’s high temperature was expected to reach 92 on Monday. The city’s average monthly high temperature in June is 79.7.
Mother Nature is expected to really turn up the heat in Southeast Michigan on Tuesday.
NWS officials have issued an extreme heat watch for much of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, warning of dangerously hot conditions with heat index values exceeding 105 degrees. The agency said heat-related illnesses increase significantly during such extreme heat and high humidity events.
The watch goes into effect Tuesday afternoon and remains in place until Thursday evening.
Detroit’s high temperature is expected to reach 98 on Tuesday, according to the weather service. The normal high for the city on June 30 is 83. The record for the date was set in 1931 at 96, the agency’s data said.
Meteorologists predict that hot and humid conditions in Southeast Michigan will extend into Friday and the holiday weekend, with the potential for showers and thunderstorms.
On Wednesday, Detroit is looking at a high of 101, followed by 100 on Thursday and 95 on Friday, according to the forecast.
There’s also a chance of showers and thunderstorms in Detroit after 2 p.m. Friday, the NWS said. It also said there’s another chance of showers in Detroit on Saturday and a chance for showers and thunderstorms on Sunday.
On Monday, meteorologists with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, or EGLE, issued an Air Quality Alert for Ozone targeting seven counties in Southeast Michigan. Another has been called for West Michigan on Tuesday.
“There is the potential for multiple high ozone days this week,” EGLE Meteorologist Alec Kownacki said in a statement. “So, we will be diligently tracking weather patterns into the weekend and calling alerts as necessary.”
Ozone is a gas that’s both created by nature and man-made. In the highest layer of Earth’s atmosphere, it reduces the amount of harmful ultraviolet radiation that reaches the planet’s surface. But when it’s in the lower atmosphere where humans breathe, it’s typically created from pollution and can negatively affect people with sensitive respiratory systems.
To lower the amount of ozone over the region, EGLE officials urge Michigan residents to avoid activities that can lead to the gas’s formation, such as refueling vehicles or topping off when refueling, using gasoline-powered lawn equipment, and using charcoal lighter fluid.
Officials offer sites for relief
Due to the expected heatwave, officials warned Michigan residents on Monday to protect their families and themselves from the extreme weather.
“Nothing beats a Pure Michigan summer, but with hot and humid temperatures in the forecast, it’s important for Michiganders to stay prepared,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement on Monday. “That means drinking more fluids, limiting time outdoors during the hottest parts of the day, and checking on friends, neighbors, and loved ones.
“Check out the resources available to you in your community to stay cool and ask for help if you need it,” she said. “Let’s stay smart, stay safe, and stay cool during this heatwave.”
City of Detroit officials said Monday recreation centers will remain open to provide air-conditioned spaces to cool down.
“Extreme heat remains one of the most serious public health issues, particularly for older adults, young children, people with chronic medical conditions, and anyone spending extended time outdoors,” Ali Abazeed, Detroit’s Chief Public Health Officer and Director, said in a statement Monday. “We ask Detroiters to check on family members and neighbors, drink plenty of water, limit outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day, and take advantage of the city’s cooling centers and public spaces to stay safe.”
The cooling centers, their locations, and hours are:
∎ Adams Butzel Complex, 10500 Lyndon, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday;
∎ Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday;
∎ Clemente, 2631 Bagley, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday;
∎ Coleman A. Young, 2751 Robert Bradby, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday;
∎ Community Center at A.B Ford, 100 Lenox St., 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday;
∎ Crowell, 16630 Lahser, noon-8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, noon-11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday;
∎ Farwell, 2781 E. Outer Drive, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday;
∎ Helen Moore Community Center, 11825 Dexter Ave., 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday;
∎ Heilmann, 19601 Crusade, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday;
∎ Kemeny, 2260 Fort St., 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday;
∎ Lasky, 13200 Fenelon, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday;
∎ Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Road, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday;
∎ And Williams, 8431 Rosa Parks, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
In addition, Detroit Public Library locations will serve as respite centers during their normal operating hours for residents seeking relief.
Westland Mayor Kevin Coleman said the Wayne County community has opened several municipal buildings to serve as cooling centers, including city hall, the senior center, and a fire station. However, city offices will be closed on Friday due to the Independence Day holiday.
The facilities and their hours are:
∎ Westland City Hall, 36300 Warren Road, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday;
∎ William P. Faust Public Library, 6123 Central City Parkway, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, closed on Saturday;
∎ Westland Friendship Senior Center, 1119 Newburgh Road, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday;
∎ Jefferson Barns Community Vitality Center, 32150 Dorsey, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday;
∎ Westland Fire Department Station #1, 35701 Central City Parkway, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. seven days a week;
∎ Westland Police Department Lobby, 36701 Ford Rd, 24 hours, seven days a week.
City officials said another option to cool down includes visiting the community’s H2O Zone, 1901 N. Carlson, the Westland Mall, 35000 Warren Road, or any Westland restaurant with air conditioning.
Warnings to stay safe
Also on Monday, AAA warned Michigan motorists not to leave children or pets inside cars in extreme heat.
Officials with the insurance company said the inside of a parked car can quickly heat up like an oven on hot summer days. They said temperatures in a vehicle can soar 20 degrees in 10 minutes. They also said more than 1,000 children have died in hot cars since 1998, with an average of 37 deaths each year, according to NoHeatStroke.org.
“Every one of these tragedies is devastating, and many happen faster than people expect,” Adrienne Woodland, a AAA – The Auto Club Group spokeswoman, said in a statement. “We want drivers to know this is preventable. Taking a second to check the back seat can save a life.”
To prevent tragedies, AAA urges drivers to:
∎ Never leave children in a vehicle, even for a moment;
∎ Check the back seat every time before locking up;
∎ Use reminders, such as placing a personal item in the back seat;
∎ Keep vehicles locked and keys out of reach to prevent children from entering on their own;
∎ Call 911 immediately if a child is alone in a vehicle.
Woodland said pets left in a vehicle on hot summer days face the same dangers as children. “If you see a pet left in a hot vehicle, call local authorities immediately,” she said.
AAA also said motorists should stay vigilant against vehicle malfunctions caused by the heat. Common problems caused by the heat include dead batteries, tire blowouts, overheating engines, and the breakdown of vehicle fluids, it said.
“High temperatures accelerate wear on critical vehicle components,” Woodland said. “That increases the chances of your car failing when you need it most.”
Extended Detroit forecast
Tuesday: Sunny; high 98, low 77
Wednesday: Sunny; high 101, low 76
Thursday: Sunny; high 100, low 76
Friday: Mostly sunny; high 95, low 74
Saturday: Mostly sunny; high 91, low 71.
Sunday: Mostly sunny; high 90.
Source: National Weather Service
cramirez@detroitnews.com
@CharlesERamirez
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: A dangerous heat wave is starting in Michigan. Here’s what to expect
Reporting by Charles E. Ramirez and Max Bryan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Charles E. Ramirez and Max Bryan, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
