It's June; it's hot, hot, hot

BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Hot even in the shade – Bruce Carter, an east-side supervisor for Grosvenor Building Services, finds a spot under the shade of a tree just outside the Volusia County Historic Courthouse in DeLand, to talk with another employee. Otherwise, the sidewalks on New York Avenue were deserted in the June 23 afternoon heat. Carter said a cold vitamin-water drink helps keep him going in the heat. "I've got to keep up my energy," he said.

Severe weather expected tonight

By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jun 23, 2009 - 6:09:49pm

It was 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, June 23. According to AccuWeather.com, the temperature in DeLand was 91 degrees. Factoring in humidity, the "RealFeel®" temperature was 108 degrees.

Thunderstorms are expected this evening, with dangerous lightning strikes.

It's run like that for a week. Monday, June 22, the temperature climbed to a record-breaking 96 degrees.

Highs have remained at 90 degrees or greater since June 10, except for one frigid day, June 17, when the thermometer plummeted to 89 degrees.

It's dog-day weather — excessively hot and sultry — in June instead of July or August. A few pedestrians with sweat-stained shirts and faces beaded with perspiration dared venture out. Given the choice, most stayed in, in the air conditioning.

What about those who work out of doors?

"It's been brutal," Bill Glenn, owner of B&D Roofing in DeLand, said.

Temperatures on roofs run 10-15 degrees hotter than on the ground, he estimated.

He and his crew of workers were "drinking a lot of Gatorade," he said, replacing electrolytes lost along with perspiration. Rehydrating with water alone wasn't cutting it.

Roofers also have to take particular care of their feet, Glenn said. Sweat runs down their legs into their socks and shoes. Feet can get stinky fungal infections.

The weather isn't forecast to break below 90 degrees until Friday, July 3, when it will ease back to 89-degree highs for several days.

Glenn said he's been really busy the past month. After May's heavy rains and heavy thunderstorms this month, people are discovering leaks in their ceilings. With storm season just begun, he fears more people will have roof problems.

At Florida Hospital-DeLand, the emergency department has seen a slight increase in patients reporting heat-related illnesses, spokeswoman Erin Hunter said.

To stay safe and healthy in hot weather, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise:

• Drink plenty of fluids — of the nonalcoholic variety. People on a fluid-restricted diet should check with their doctors.

• Stay indoors, in the air conditioning whenever possible. Limit outdoor activity to morning and evening hours. Curtail exercise, if needed.

• Take a cool shower to cool off.

• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.

• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen.

Increased temperatures mean air conditioners run more. Customers of Progress Energy Florida used 3.5 percent more electricity last week (June 15-21) than they did during the same week in 2008, spokesman Tim Leljedal said.

The increase hasn't taxed the company's ability to provide power thus far, and there have been no brownouts or temperature-related power outages.

Leljedal provided summer energy-saving tips:

• For every degree the thermostat is set above 78, customers can save 10 percent on their cooling costs. Also, making the switch from a manual to a programmable thermostat could lead to energy cost savings of up to $180 per year.

• Turn on the ceiling fan. It can make people feel several degrees cooler, and help save on electricity. Leave the fan off when no one is in the room.

• Summertime is a good time to fire up the grill. Using the oven heats the house and makes the air conditioner work harder.

• Install solar windows and window screens to eliminate "hot spots" in the home. They help protect furniture and fabric from the sun, too, and some qualify for rebates.

• Turn off the water heater before leaving town. Turning down the heater's temperature from 140 degrees to 120 degrees can help customers save up to $85 a year.

• To sign up for a free Home Energy Check, or to find out more energy-saving tips, visit www.SaveThe Watts.com.

— pat@beacononlinenewscom

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