CSRA Heat Alerts: What the New Guidelines Mean for You

If you’ve been living in the CSRA for any amount of time, you know how brutally hot our summers can get. The sweltering heat is something we all must endure, but recently, there have been some changes in how we need to prepare for and respond to extreme heat.

Understanding the New Heat Criteria

It turns out, different parts of our region are covered by different National Weather Service (NWS) offices, each with their own criteria for issuing heat advisories and warnings. Let’s break it down.

NWS Columbia has lowered the bar for heat alerts for residents in Lincoln, McDuffie, Columbia, Richmond, Burke, McCormick, Edgefield, Saluda, Aiken, Barnwell, and Bamberg counties.

• Old Criteria: Heat advisory issued when the heat index (how hot it feels with humidity) reached 110-114°F for at least 2 hours.
• New Criteria: Heat advisory now issued when the heat index hits 108-112°F for at least 2 hours.

Similarly, the threshold for excessive heat watches and warnings has also dropped to 113°F (from 115°F). This implies that you will receive alerts sooner to take precautions when the heat becomes dangerous.

If you’re in Jenkins, Screven, or Allendale counties (under NWS Charleston’s watch), you’ll follow the same updated criteria as NWS Columbia.

For our friends in Wilkes, Taliaferro, Warren, Glascock, Jefferson, Emanuel, Johnson, Washington, and Hancock counties (NWS Peachtree City/Atlanta territory), the criteria differ slightly.

• Heat Advisory: Issued when the heat index reaches 105-109°F.
• Heat Watch/Warning: Issued when the heat index reaches 110°F.

Why These Changes Matter

The updated criteria mean we’ll receive earlier warnings about potentially dangerous heat conditions. This gives us more time to prepare, take precautions, and protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our pets from heat-related illnesses.

By staying informed and taking these precautions, we can all have a safe and healthy summer in the CSRA!

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