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Temperatures near 100 on Saturday

LOCK HAVEN — After a few days of thunderstorms today and tomorrow, this weekend is set to be a scorcher as temperatures are expected near 100 degrees.

The weather forecast shows an 80 percent chance of rain for today, with scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. Light winds are expected, with a high of 85 degrees and a low of 70. More rain is expected overnight.

Scattered thunderstorms are expected to continue through Thursday, with a high of 88 and a low of 71.

“We will be a little unsettled through Thursday,” said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Carl Erickson. “We’ll see some pretty good downpours.”

By Friday, temperatures will rise to a blistering high of 94 degrees, with light wind and very little chance of rain.

“That’s when all that hot and steamy weather moves in. The humidity really starts then,” Erickson said.

Saturday will get even hotter, with a high of 96 and a low of 73 overnight.

“The heat will peak on Saturday. We will be looking at RealFeel temperatures from 100 to 110,” Erickson said.

Sunday, temperatures will start to dip back down, with a high of 92 and a low of 71.

“The good news is that it won’t be here very long. We don’t have to deal with a long stretch of it,” Erickson said.

Sunday night thunderstorms will give way to a much cooler Monday morning, with a high of 85 and a low of 65.

In cases of extreme heat, the following precautions can be taken:

∫ Stay in the coolest place as much as possible and avoid too much activity.

∫ Eat lightly and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

∫ Rub wet wash cloths, packs of frozen food or ice cubes over your wrists, face and back of neck.

∫ Seek medical help if cooling-off measures are not working. Heat stroke can be fatal if not recognized and treated in time.

There are different levels of heat-related illnesses, with heat exhaustion and heat stroke being the two main categories.

Heat exhaustion is considered the beginning stages of heat-related illnesses. It can start as heat cramps as the body starts to lose excessive amounts of fluids and salts, along with minerals such as magnesium. However, there are a few misconceptions about first aid for heat exhaustion, like removing clothing or using ice-cold water to cool down. Water is the gold standard for rehydration, but you can also use electrolyte-based drinks that are low in sugar to help offset loss of minerals.

Heat stroke is a much more severe heat-related illness that can require prompt medical attention. When there is a body temperature of 103 or higher, that can be a sign of heat stroke, along with hot red and dry skin, a fast pulse, confusion, headaches and the patient may lose consciousness. Another sign of heat stroke involves impaired mental faculties.

When the temperature and humidity are high, breathing can become a challenge. When the heat is high, it is important to avoid other triggers that may make it hard to breathe – especially if you have asthma or another lung condition. Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, allergens and pollution whenever possible.

Ultimately, preventing any heat-related illness can be a matter of being proactive.

“Just be smart. Drink plenty of liquids,” Erickson said. “If you have to be out, go out in the morning and late evening. It’s just usual common sense stuff.”

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