A day of triple-digit temperatures is forecast for much of southern Michigan, leading school officials in Detroit and Flint to cancel activities.
The National Weather Service says today's high should reach 101-105 degrees in Detroit and 100-104 in Ann Arbor and Midland. Heat advisories have been issued for Michigan 53 lowermost counties.
It's just the latest in a string of scorching summer days in the state.
Mike Kalembkiewicz, a meteorological technician at the weather service's Grand Rapids office, tells the Morning Sun of Mount Pleasant, "We haven't experienced the 100s like this since the 1930s."
Some Detroit schools are calling off classes. And in Flint, WEYI-TV reports schools canceled their summer programs.
If you're without air conditioning, you can find a list of cooling centers open today in mid and west Michigan by following these links. If you want to beat the heat with a good book, here's a list of Michigan libraries.
The Red Cross of Southeast Michigan offers some tips on how to stay safe in this extreme heat wave:
Prepare. Discuss heat safety precautions with members of your household. Have a plan for what to do if the power goes out. Dress for the heat. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays. It is also a good idea to wear hats or to use an umbrella. Stay hydrated. Carry water or juice with you and drink continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine, which dehydrate the body. Eat small meals and eat more often. Avoid high-protein foods, which increase metabolic heat. Slow down and avoid strenuous activity. If you must do strenuous activity, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually in the morning between 4 and 7 a.m. Take frequent breaks. Stay indoors when possible. If air-conditioning is not available, stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine. Remember that electric fans do not cool, they simply circulate the air. Be a good neighbor. During heat waves, check in on family, friends and neighbors who are elderly or ill and those who do not have air conditioning. Check on your animals frequently, too, to make sure they are not suffering from the heat. Learn Red Cross first aid and CPR/AED
Fingers crossed, a front arriving the next day should bring highs down to the 80s in the southern Lower Peninsula.
-Elaine Ezekiel, Michigan Radio Newsroom
