As summer continues to get hotter and temperatures around Atlanta climb upwards, understanding the implications of heat index warnings can help save lives across the area. This all-important narrative by Micki Olson from New York’s University at Albany was first published in The Conversation, before being repurposed with due permissions.
Individuals commonly may utter phrases like “it’s not the heat…” without fully understanding the context or implications. These seemingly nonchalant or shrugged off assertions can be potentially misguided, given the severity of ever-rising temperatures. If understood and heeded properly, heat index warnings can prove life-saving during periods of high heat. For this reason, education about what these alerts truly signify is of utmost importance. Further information on the Heat Index can be found on the National Weather Service’s website here.