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Baltimore area sizzles in heat wave
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Malik Carter, 10, of Catonsville, gulps back some of his water while he listens to instructions at the Bank of America Youth Baseball Clinic at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007.
Maryland (Map, News) - Wearing a lightweight, sleeveless sundress, Cathy Moe trudged across Pratt Street on Tuesday on her way to the Inner Harbor. Right away, she started missing the 70-degree weather back home in Seattle.
“It’s very suffocating and hot,” Moe said. “I’m trying to stay inside as much as possible. I walked outside and thought, ‘Wow, it’s like a sauna.’ ”
Almost everybody outdoors in the Baltimore area Tuesday would agree, as temperatures soared to 96 by late afternoon, prompting the Maryland Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene to issue a “code red” hot weather advisory, warning people to take precautions when going outside.
The heat index — what the air feels like based on temperature and humidity — climbed to 103 degrees across the state except in Garrett County. On Ride the Ducks, amphibious touring vehicles that plunge into the harbor, being on the water provided little relief.
The company loses about 20 percent in profits on code red days because many people go outside only when they have to, said Charles Edgington, a manager with Ride the Ducks.
“The heat makes a big difference,” he said. “People are crankier. They’re tired.”
The heat slows employees, too. “The employees do not have the same flare of entertainment,” Edgington said. “We try to keep our energy high, but it’s hard to do when you’re burning up and wiping sweat off.”
Even those accustomed to working along the water in all sorts of weather quit early.
“We’re only working until lunchtime,” said Paul Cora, curator of the Baltimore Maritime Museum as he repainted the Lightship 116 Chesapeake. “In this heat, you’ve got to work smart.”
For some, the heat has proved deadly. Since May, state officials report 13 heat-related deaths, down from 38 last year, when an early-August heat wave killed 21 people.
Even with all the dangers and inconveniences, some tourists are content to put up with the uncomfortable weather, and Patsy Dennis, a visitor from Denver, said she loves the East Coast temperatures.
“I don’t mind this at all,” Dennis said. “I like the heat and humidity. My skin feels so good. In Denver, my hands are so dry, they feel like a dragon’s.”
HOW TO STAY COOL
» Wear lightweight, light-colored and loose clothing
» Drink plenty of water
» Avoid strenuous activity
» Take regular breaks when active
» Stay in air-conditioned areas when possible
» Never leave pets or young children in a car
» Check on elderly relatives or neighbors
Source: The Family Health Administration
