July 17, 2019 – “Hot, hot, hot” is about the only way to describe our current weather situation. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a heat advisory for all of southeaster Wisconsin from noon on Thursday, July 18 until 11 p.m. on Friday, July 19. According to the NWS, “Highs will reach the lower 90s Thursday afternoon, with heat index values of 100 to 106. Highs will reach the middle to upper 90s on Friday, with heat index values of 103 to 110.”
Seniors can spend time during regular business hours at Senior Citizens Activities, Inc. (Senior Center), 2378 W. Washington Street, beating the heat while socializing, engaging in activities or just relaxing.
Area pools and splash pads are popular during the warmest days of summer in Wisconsin. West Bend’s Regner Park Beach, 800 N. Main St., is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily while the Splash Pad is open from noon to 5 p.m.
In Kewaskum, Kiwanis Community Park,1599 Brooklane Drive, opens it’s pool and splash pad during the hours of 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday; on Sunday the hours are 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Hartford’s Veteran’s Memorial Aquatic Center, 777 S. Main Street, offers open swim from 1-8 p.m. weekdays and noon to 6 p.m. on weekends. Lap swim is available weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Lazy River Walking is from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. weekdays only. The pool may be open an additional hour in the evenings if the air temperature is above 90 degrees at 5 p.m.
The local library, theater and area malls and businesses also see their fair share of uptick in frequency as the temperatures become too much for folks without air conditioning or shelter.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services offers this brochure with information on how to handle the extreme heat as we approach some of the hottest days of summer 2019.
From Fox6News: WE Energies also offers a number of money-saving tips to help you stay cool during these hot days of summer.
NO COST
- Keep the sun out. Close blinds, shades and drapes on the sunny side of your home during the day to keep the house cooler.
- Adjust your thermostat. When at home, set it a few degrees higher to save energy. When you are away, adjust your thermostat 7 to 10 degrees higher than your normal setting for at least 8 hours a day. This can help you save 10% on your energy bill.
- Leave thermostat’s fan switch on “auto” so the fan only runs when the furnace runs. Setting the fan to “on” causes it to run all the time.
LOW COST
- Use standing fans, even if you have air conditioning. Circulating cool air makes it feel cooler.
- Seal cracks and gaps around windows, doors and siding with caulk and weather stripping. This keeps cool air in and hot air out.
- Install a programmable thermostat for your comfort and convenience. It can adjust the air conditioning for times you typically are away and times you typically are home. You also can program it to reduce cooling when you go to sleep and turn it back up before you wake up in the morning.
- Schedule regular tune-ups for your air conditioner. Seasonal maintenance keeps equipment running safely and efficiently, and saves money in the long run.