The San Angelo National Weather Service issued a weather statement concerning the first significant heat wave of the year for West Central Texas.  The statement is below.

THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT HEAT WAVE OF THE YEAR IS EXPECTED THIS WEEK, WITH HOT TO VERY HOT CONDITIONS FORECAST THROUGH FRIDAY.

HEAT INDEX VALUES TODAY IN THE BIG COUNTRY, CONCHO VALLEY, AND CROCKETT COUNTY WILL BE NEAR TO ABOVE 103 FOR A FEW HOURS THIS AFTERNOON. THEN, HIGHS WEDNESDAY LOOK TO RANGE FROM THE LOW 90’s IN THE SOUTHEASTERN COUNTIES, TO THE UPPER 90’s AND LOW 100’s IN THE WESTERN AND NORTHWESTERN COUNTIES. MEANWHILE, HIGH HUMIDITY COMBINING WITH THOSE HOT AIR TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN MUGGY AND UNPLEASANT CONDITIONS. HEAT INDEX VALUES ARE LIKELY TO REACH ABOVE 103 FOR A FEW TO SEVERAL HOURS ACROSS THE BIG COUNTRY, CONCHO VALLEY AND CROCKETT COUNTY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY WILL LIKELY BE THE HOTTEST DAYS OF THE HEAT WAVE, WITH HIGHS RANGING FROM THE MID TO UPPER 90’s IN THE SOUTHEASTERN COUNTIES, TO THE LOW TO MID 100’s IN THE WESTERN AND NORTHWESTERN COUNTIES. TEMPERATURES THIS HOT, ESPECIALLY WHERE THE LOW TO MID 100 TEMPERATURES OCCUR, WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASED RISK OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES.

TO STAY SAFE FROM THE HEAT, MAKE SURE TO STAY HYDRATED IF YOU HAVE TO SPEND TIME OUTDOORS. LIMIT STRENUOUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AND MAKE SURE TO TAKE PLENTY OF BREAKS INSIDE AIR CONDITIONED BUILDINGS OR UNDER SOME SHADE. WEAR LIGHT, LOOSE FITTING, LIGHT COLORED CLOTHES. KNOW THE SIGNS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE, AND TAKE QUICK ACTION SHOULD YOU OR YOUR LOVED BE EXPERIENCING A HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS. FINALLY, MAKE SURE TO NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS UNATTENDED IN A PARKED VEHICLE, NOT EVEN FOR A FEW MINUTES.