Carson City area weather: Prolonged, excessive heat wave warning continues through Friday
A long duration heatwave has brought a moderate to major heat risk across the Sierra, Lake Tahoe, Carson City and surrounding prompting the National Weather Service to extend its Excessive Heat Warning through Friday.
Hot daytime temperatures near 105 to 107 degrees and limited overnight cooling with morning lows in the mid 60s to mid 70s will result in a prolonged period of "major heat risk and heat health impacts," according to NWS forecasters.
The warning is in effect through 10 a.m. Friday and extends to throughout Carson City, Carson Valley, Douglas, Lyon, Mineral and Washoe counties. Excessive heat warnings are also in place across the Silver State.
For those looking for some relief, it will be hot in the Sierra and Lake Tahoe, with a Heat Advisory also extending until 10 a.m. Friday with daytime temperatures in the 90s through the week.
Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat events, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.
People are advise to never leave children and pets unattended in vehicles as car interiors reach lethal temperatures within minutes. It is also advised to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency. Call 911.
NV Energy has advised customers to be prepared for potential outages due to strain on the power grid from the extreme temperatures and fire risk.
"Periods of extreme heat may cause isolated issues on NV Energy’s infrastructure, including equipment failure that can result in outages," the utility states in a news release. "NV Energy will have extra crews on standby throughout the weekend to quickly and safely respond to any outages that may occur. We appreciate your patience and understanding, as our crews may need to work in extreme heat conditions to make the necessary repairs and restore power safely."
NV Energy's advises customers to review its outage preparation tips to prepare ahead of any possible outage. Customers can also report outages and stay up to date on the number of outages, outage causes, number of customers impacted, and estimated time of restoration in the link here.
The utility offers the following tips that can help customers stay cool and conserve energy during time of extreme heat:
— Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.
— If your A/C unit is on the ground, keep the area around it clean and free of obstructions to maintain airflow.
Use the energy saver options for as many devices/appliances as possible.
— Keep windows closed. Keep outside air out and inside air in.
— Run full loads in your washer and dryer, and use "solar drying."
— If you are away for the weekend, turn your thermostat up.
— During periods of extreme heat, the National Weather Service recommends staying hydrated and avoid the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.