During a Heat Wave - National Weather Service What is a heat wave? A heat wave is a period of abnormally hot weather generally lasting more than two days Heat waves can occur with or without high humidity They have potential to cover a large area, exposing a high number of people to hazardous heat Heat can be very taxing on the body; learn more about the heat related illnesses that can
Heat Waves: Causes, Effects, and Impacts Heat-Related Illnesses: Heat waves pose significant risks to human health, leading to a range of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heatstroke, dehydration, and heat cramps Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can strain the body's ability to regulate its internal temperature, increasing the likelihood of heat-related health
Q A: Who is in the most danger during a heatwave? Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke In this Q A, W Larry Kenney, professor of physiology and kinesiology and Marie Underhill Noll Chair in Human Performance at Penn State, and doctoral candidate Olivia Leach discuss their research on the upper limits of heat and humidity that people can withstand based on their age, sex and health
Effects of Heat Waves on Humans: Causes Prevention A heat wave is a prolonged period of excessively hot weather, which may be coupled with high humidity, particularly in oceanic climates Defined by the World Meteorological Organization, a heat wave occurs when the daily maximum temperature exceeds the average by 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) for at least five consecutive days