As temperatures and humidity soar in much of Maine, so do the dangers of heat illnesses. Weather and public safety officials are urging people to stay out of the heat, and several Aroostook County communities are offering cooling centers to help.
Tuesday’s temperatures were expected to reach 95 in Presque Isle, and with the heat index it could feel like up to 99 degrees in most of Aroostook County, according to the National Weather Service in Caribou.
A high heat warning is in effect through 8 p.m. Tuesday that includes Aroostook, Penobscot and parts of Piscataquis, Washington and Hancock counties. Hot weather is expected to continue Wednesday until a cold front moves through on Thursday, the weather service said.
Meteorologists urged people to drink fluids, stay in air-conditioned environments and keep out of the sun. People who do go outside should wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and limit strenuous activity to morning and evening, when temperatures are at their coolest.
Residents should also check on family and neighbors, the weather service said.
Heat illnesses
Humidity and high temperatures can cause illnesses including heatstroke, heat exhaustion, rash and dehydration, which can happen because the body can’t cool itself off, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
Heatstroke is serious and can be fatal if untreated, the department reported. Symptoms include confusion, dizziness, headache and loss of consciousness. Heat exhaustion may cause dizziness, thirst, extreme sweating, nausea and muscle cramps and can lead to heatstroke.
People on medications or with certain conditions should try to avoid the heat and watch closely for symptoms of overheating, said John Thyng, medical director of emergency medicine at Northern Light AR Gould Hospital in Presque Isle, in a press release.
Thyng advised people to wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, and never to leave a person or a pet in a parked car.
Where to go
“With the increased heat and humidity these next few days, the Town of Fort Fairfield is opening the council chambers from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. [through] Wednesday,” the Fort Fairfield Police Department said on social media.
Here’s a list of other cooling centers to help you beat the heat. For a complete listing check out the Maine Emergency Management Agency’s list.
Caribou: Caribou Wellness Center, 55 Bennett Drive, open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Meals are not provided.
Fort Kent: While the town listed no cooling centers, the Fort Kent Recreation Department offers public swimming all week from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Houlton: Houlton Town Office, Town Council chambers, 21 Water St., 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. No meals.
Limestone: Robert Frost Library, 42 Main St., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. No meals. There is an elevator available.
Portage Lake: Portage Lake Town Hall, 20 School St. Open all week. A water cooler, book room, toys and games are available.
Presque Isle: Mark & Emily Turner Public Library, open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with cold drinks and food available. Also, Sister Mary O’Donnell Emergency Homeless Shelter, 24 hours a day. Meals provided. The city also lists these spaces: Sargent Family Community Center, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Presque Isle Police Department Lobby, 24 hours a day.
Washburn: Washburn Civic Center, 1287 Main St., open all day Tuesday and Wednesday. For information call Town Manager Donna Turner at 207-455-8485. No meals.
How rare is this extreme heat?
For those wondering how rare it is to find temperatures in the mid-90s in northern Maine, here’s a snapshot of record heat for Aug. 12, according to weather service data.
Caribou recorded 92 at 3 p.m. today and could surpass the record of 93 degrees set on Aug. 12, 1944.
Houlton, at 94 degrees, may also beat its record of 95 degrees, set on the same date in 1944.
For reference, Bangor clocked in at 96 degrees, 4 degrees shy of its record of 100 degrees in 1944.
