As Houston continues cleanup efforts and restores power to hundreds of thousands after deadly storms claimed at least seven lives, it faces additional challenges from high temperatures and smog warnings.
National Weather Service meteorologist Marc Chenard stated on Saturday that temperatures could reach around 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 degrees Celsius) into the beginning of next week. Heat indices might climb near 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) by midweek.
“We anticipate the heat impact to gradually escalate … we’ll see that heat risk rise from Tuesday into Wednesday through Friday,” Chenard explained.
The heat index combines humidity with air temperature to determine how hot it feels to humans, according to the weather service.
A man walks through the bricks (Via Brett Jhonson/Shutterstock)
“Take it easy during the cleanup process,” advised the weather service’s Houston office in a social media post.
Alongside the heat, the Houston area could experience poor air quality over the weekend.
Meanwhile, heavy rain was expected in eastern Louisiana and central Alabama on Saturday, with flooding potential in parts of Louisiana.
The Houston Health Department announced plans to distribute 400 free portable air conditioners to seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers of disabled children to help cope with the heat. Additionally, five cooling centers have been set up — four in Houston and one in Kingwood.
