Butler once again facing heat wave this week
Like much of the rest of the state, Butler County will be experiencing high temperatures and humidity. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh uses the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport in Penn Township as its reference point.
The heat index for Western Pennsylvania is expected to reach 100 degrees in some areas, with Butler County expected to reach 95 degrees on Tuesday, July 9, and 94 degrees on Wednesday, July 10.
“It’s slightly above normal for this time of year,” said National Weather Service meteorologist John Darnley.
Tuesday, July 9, is the hottest day of the week, according to the U.S. National Weather Service Pittsburgh, with highs in the low- to mid-90s, with heat indexes, a measure of how outside temperatures feel on the human body, are expected to be as high as 100 degrees.
The rest of the week, temperatures are expected to range from the 60s to the upper 80s.
“Highs normally around this time of year are 83 and lows normally are 63,” Darnley said. “We’re actually ranging out nicely, so we’re getting pretty close to normal.”
Residents in Butler County can expect some rain Wednesday, July 10 from the early morning until noon, and some rain Thursday, July 11 as well.
The heat especially will affect those who work outside, such as construction workers and road workers.
“The key is actually staying properly dressed and staying properly hydrated,” Darnley said.
Hydration, taking breaks and staying in the shade are crucial for residents to stay safe during periods of hot weather, and this applies to pets as well.
For residents without air conditioning units, cooling shelters can act as a place for residents to go to beat the heat.
Grapevine Center on North Elm Street in Butler is one such cooling center. Residents can visit pa211.org to find nearby cooling centers.
