The semi-arid heat capital of Texas has tied a record no one wants to break — and that’s consecutive days of 100-degree weather.
The last record was set in August 2024 at 10 days. As of Thursday, July 30, Amarillo also reached 10 days, when temps rose to the 100-degree mark in the afternoon.
Hopefully, by Friday, the trend of mercury rising will be dropping down, with highs going up to only 97 degrees and chances for rain in the forecast.
The area is also still very dry, with parts of the region in severe and extreme levels of drought. According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, a wildfire estimated at around 158 acres was 30% contained, south of Skellytown around 2 p.m. Thursday, and multiple fire departments in the region have shared on Facebook about responding to various grass fires over the past week.
The hot weather has air conditioners churning to keep up with the heat, the electric grid straining and people scrambling for more fans, coolers, cooling rags and other strategies to keep cool.
The cause is a strong dome of high pressure sitting over the area like a pressure cooker, according to meteorologists.
Another heat advisory is in place for parts of the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles through 9 p.m. Thursday, with temperatures and heat index values possibly going up to 108. The rest of the region is under a hazardous weather outlook for the hot weather.
Additionally, the Amarillo Parks and Recreation Department shared a post on Facebook July 30 that said, due to the recent heat wave, oxygen levels at John Ward Memorial Park (i.e., Medipark) are very low. Since low oxygen levels are stressful to fish and can result in fish kills, the decision was made to cancel Friday’s stocking at the park’s lake. The fish stocking is expected to resume in September and October.
Cooling centers for those with no air conditioning
Amarillo Area Office of Emergency Management has designated all five Amarillo Public Library branches as public cooling centers during normal operation hours. The Salvation Army is also available.
Tips for beating the heat
The best advice is to stay safe and indoors during extreme heat in Amarillo, but if you have to go out, prioritize consistent hydration, minimize direct sun exposure during peak hours and monitor vulnerable family members and pets.
No matter how important the work is, your health is more important, and once you have a heat-related incident, it’s more likely to happen again.
Hydrate constantly — Carry a water bottle and drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluids throughout the day. It’s advised to avoid proteins, alcohol and sugary drinks that increase metabolic heat. There are plenty of products available to increase your hydration that can be added to water.
Time your outings — Limit strenuous outdoor activity. Plan necessary outdoor tasks for cooler mornings of evening hours.
Dress appropriately — Wear loose, lightweight and light-colored clothes that reflect sunlight. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and apply sunscreen. Cooling rags can bring down the body temperature as well as putting your hands in cool water and applying water to the neck and arms. But, if you get overheated, do not throw cold water on your head immediately.
Check on vulnerable neighbors — Monitor elderly family members, friends and neighbors to ensure their hoes have adequate cooling. Less expensive cooling units on wheels are available to those who need it.
Vehicle safety — Never leave children, older adults or pets inside a parked vehicle for any amount of time. A cracked window will not suffice in 100-degree weather which zooms up 10 – 20 degrees more in a vehicle, even in the shade.
Water early in the morning, late in evening – to avoid rapid evaporation, it’s best to water your lawns and gardens before it begins to heat up and in the evening when it’s cooler. It puts less strain on the water supply as well.
Practice pet safety during heat
When walking your pet, test the pavement or asphalt with the back of your hand. If you can’t hold it there for seven seconds, it is too hot for your pet’s paw pads and can critically burn them. Pets are not invulnerable to heat and cold.
Keep fresh, clean water available for your pets at all times that is not exposed to the sun. The sun will heat the water to a critical temperature that dogs cannot drink and they can die. Make sure they have a fully shaded shelter, not just one dog house that can heat up as well.
Dogs can have heatstroke. Watch for heavy panting, drooling, red or pale gums, stumbling or vomiting. If you see an animal in distress or in a car, call 806-378-3038 immediately for Animal Management & Welfare. If your pet is suffering, go to a nearby veterinarian.
How to recognize heat emergencies
Issues with heat can come up quickly watch for the following symptoms and seek relief as soon as possible to avoid a dangerous heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion
Heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, weakness, clammy skin. Action required: Move to a cool place, loosen clothes, apply cool, wet clothes and sip water.
Heat stroke
Body temperature above 103 degrees causing confusion, hot/red skin, fainting, fast pulse. This is considered an emergency medical condition; call 911 immediately. Cool the person down rapidly, but do not give them fluids.
How much fluid you should drink in hot weather
Make sure you pace your intake of fluids; drink 8 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes when active outside.
Aim for 24 to 32 ounces of fluids per hour, but do not exceed 48 ounces per hour to avoid dropping your body’s sodium levels, which can be as dangerous.
Supplement with a sports drink after one hour of heavy sweating to replace lost minerals.
Steer clear of heavy caffeine, alcohol and sugary beverages as they dehydrate you.
Nell Williams is a staff writer covering trends and other news for the Amarillo Globe-News. Have a story idea? Email her at nwilliams@usatodayco.com .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo reaches 100-degree mark, ties record heat streak
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News | USA TODAY Network
