The residents of Saint-Louis endure extreme warmth in the middle of the recovery of the tornado
The concrete districts of St. Louis hold the heat long after sunset, and he strikes the most difficult communities for tornadoes.
ST. Louis – While Saint -Louis approaches for several days of three -digit heat, residents of certain parts of the city feel that the temperature increases more intensely than others, especially in neighborhoods that are always recovering recent tornadoes.
In the north of Saint-Louis, the longtime resident Terry Miller does what he can stay cool.
“This heat could become so serious that you can fry an egg of concrete,” said Miller from the porch of his house, where he has lived since 1967.
He’s lucky, he said, to have a little shadow and an air conditioner that works for the moment.
“God helped me with an air conditioner, and I direct it because I don’t want to die in the heat,” said Miller. “Fortunately, I had a little air conditioner, but I need a cost.”
But everyone in his neighborhood does not have a porch to sit or a reliable way to cool off. And it is there that the effect of the island of urban heat comes into play, a phenomenon making areas like the north of Saint-Louis even warmer than their suburban counterparts.
During the weekend, people used trees and umbrellas for the shadow.
Urban heat islands are formed when buildings and sidewalks absorb heat during the day and slowly release it at night, keeping city temperatures of several degrees warmer than surrounding areas. “”
Marshall Fahler, a meteorologist of the National Weather Service in St. Louis, said that the city’s infrastructure plays a major role.
“The urban area has more concrete, more asphalt, which is able to warm up better than the surrounding areas and to keep the heat at night,” said Fahler.
This kept heat can lead to significant night temperature differences.
“Minimal temperatures at night in the city on average about three warmer degrees,” he said. “It is then that you really see the island of urban heat light up.”
In addition, many districts in the north of Saint-Louis always recover damage caused by the tornado, leaving certain residents with damaged houses or limited access to power and cooling. Blue tarpaulins are always visible on the roofs.
“One of the vulnerabilities that is unique this year is definitely North City … Many people have no adequate means of escaping heat,” said Fahler.
A jet system hanging on a fire mouth in a corner has created temporary cooling spots on the sidewalk of the neighborhood.
Cooling centers open through Saint-Louis
With dangerous heat levels expected throughout the week, officials encourage residents to enjoy public cooling centers.
The city of St. Louis, as well as local non -profit and emergency management teams, have opened several locations for those looking for heat shelter.
Related: St. Louis Heat: security advice, cooling centers, utility resources
Things to remember
- Drink a lot of water.
- Limit external activity.
- Check the elderly neighbors and those without AC.
- Never leave children or pets in vehicles.
