Even though we're swiftly moving through the month of August, summer is still holding on tight here in Central Maine. Despite the pandemic raging on in the background of our lives, we've been pretty fortunate with our share of 'nice weather' this summer. And, since the only activities we've really been able to do have been outside, that's a good thing.

Today, Tuesday, August 11th, it will be another scorcher here in Maine. As a matter of fact, the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for us from 10:00 AM until this evening at 8:00 PM. Today's high temperature in the Augusta area will peak at around 88 degrees, though the heat index will climb to about 95.

What exactly is a heat index? Well, that's a great question. Hold on a second and I'll Google it. Okay, I'm back. And actually, the answer that I found is exactly what I thought it was. The heat index is basically the same thing as the 'wind chill' values that we dole out with the winter weather forecasts.

According to Weather.GovThe heat index, also known as the apparent temperature, is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.

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With today's highs reaching 88 and the expected relative humidity reaching nearly 98%, we're definitely in for a bit of a scorcher. So as always, remember to stay cool, hydrated and safe. Make sure your outdoor animals have adequate water and shade, and when possible, keep your animals inside where it's nice and cool.

If you do have to be outside, make sure you stay familiar with the warning signs of hear stroke. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of heat stroke can include high body temp, altered mental state or behavior, alteration in sweating, nausea and vomiting, flushed skin, rapid breathing, racing heart rate and headache. If you experience any of these symptoms, get to a cooler climate immediately and, depending on severity, seek medical attention for your symptoms.

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