SAFETY ALERT: Family members, neighbors and friends are encouraged to be cognizant of vulnerable populations as temperatures are forecast to continue to rise near and potentially into the 90s this week in Allegany and adjoining counties.
The National Weather Service (NWS) notes that three deaths already have occurred around the country this year from children being left in a car under various circumstances.
Kids playing in cars or wandering outside and getting into a car can die in 10 minutes, according to NWS, noting that “a dark dashboard or seat can easily reach temperatures in the range of 180 to over 200 degrees Fahrenheit.”
Objects such as a dashboard, steering wheel or child seat, heat the adjacent air by conduction and convection and also give off longwave radiation, they explain, “which is very efficient at warming the air trapped inside a vehicle.”
An example provided is an outside temperature of 80 degrees going to an unsafe reading of 94.3 degrees in just over two minutes in a car and 123 degrees within an hour.
The elderly, disabled and pets also are at risk of heatstroke in unairconditioned or closed surroundings.
A state-maintained webpage for cooling centers is available at https://on.ny.gov/3MK1GLh, with potential users being encouraged to call ahead to determine available hours.
In Allegany County, the printed list is showing many libraries and the Allegany County Office for the Aging at Belmont as cooling center sites.
The map, however, is showing fewer libraries and also includes the Wellsville Middle and High School.
NWS Heat Safety Tips and Resources are available at https://bit.ly/3Af0YOq, with a full look at the weather locally and throughout the nation over the next seven days and beyond, and in specific geographic areas, on our exclusive Weather Resources page at https://bit.ly/3YAlcPI or the link in the left column of this page.
Allegany Hope is a Weather-Ready Nation AmbassadorTM and provides both adverse weather and other emergency preparedness and weather education information on this website and on our new group Allegany Hope WNY Community News Facebook page at https://bit.ly/3DRdx6J.
“Like” and “Share” this website and that page, along with applicable posts, with family members and friends to help keep them informed about what is happening in Allegany County and beyond.
Emergency alerts reporting should not be considered a substitute for immediate weather alert radio or portable instant warning devices.
As always, we are seeking volunteers who have an interest in weather and other types of disaster preparedness to expand our coverage and community education. For further information, contact us at AlleganyHopeWNY@outlook.com or (484) 435-0503.