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T?exas is in the grips of a dangerous, searing heat wave that's straining the power grid, sending people to hospitals and breaking some all-time temperature records.
H?ere's what's happening:
-?Temperatures upwards of 115 degrees have been measured in some cities, including all-time records in places like Laredo, Del Rio and San Angelo.
-The number of heat-related visits to emergency rooms across Texas rose dramatically on Tuesday, according to data tracked by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
-?The state's power grid operator asked residents to cut back on electricity usage in anticipation of what was expected to be record demand.
Weather.com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman adds:
-"Texas heat is a fact of life in summer. But the magnitude of the heat in recent days has topped all-time records in a few places, especially closer to the Rio Grande Valley."
-"T?his spell of dangerous, searing heat began building northward out of Mexico last week, and has shifted into a higher gear the past few days."
-?"Unfortunately, the dome of high pressure responsible for this heat wave is expected to restrengthen by this weekend, and remain in place into early July."
-"Significant heat relief is usually hard to come by in the Southern Plains from this point on in summer, unless a tropical system brings soaking rainfall."
What else you need to know:
-?The heat index, or "feels like" temperature, is what really matters when it comes to gauging how hot weather affects the human body. The heat index is a measure of moisture and actual air temperature combined.
-?Signs of heat-related illness include everything from a rash to, in the most severe cases, losing consciousness. Anyone experiencing symptoms of heat exhaustion - including nausea, muscle cramps, dizziness or clammy skin - needs to cool off right away and drink water.
-Symptoms of heat stroke - including a fast and strong pulse, confusion or high body temperature - mean you should seek medical help immediately.
-?Cooling centers are open in many communities. A map of locations is available on the Texas Department of Emergency Management website, but residents are advised to follow local authorities or call 211 for the latest information.
M?ORE ON WEATHER.COM:
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Weather.com reporter Jan Childs covers breaking news and features related to weather, space, climate change, the environment and everything in between.
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