The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch for every single community in Northeast Ohio due to prolonged dangerously hot conditions with heat index values in excess of 100 this week. Heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events.

Excessive heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States, said Bryan Baskin, Vice President of Emergency Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic.

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events.

The ‘feels like temperature’

Today highs are expected in the low to mid-90s. The 90s are then expected to linger for several days this week. It looks like this heat wave could last into next week or potentially the following Monday. Not only will it be hot, but it will be humid as well.

Dew points start to increase today. Dew points represent the amount of moisture in the air. When the dew point temperatures gets to around 60 degrees, you begin to notice the stickiness in the air. As that number goes up, the more uncomfortable it becomes outside.

The high heat and high humidity mean it will feel even hotter than it actually is outside.

The “feels like temperature” or the heat index value is not a number made up by the news to try and sensationalize the heat. It is actually a scientific fact. The body cools itself by sweating; however, when there is more moisture in the air, it prevents your body from sweating effectively. Therefore, the body feels warmer when the humidity is higher.

In addition to the Excessive Heat Watch, the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) has issued an Air Quality Advisory for eight Northeast counties including Cuyahoga County. The advisory will be effective through Monday, June 17. In a news release the agency said air quality levels may be unhealthy for children, the elderly and those with breathing difficulties.

To get the latest Power of 5 forecast from the News 5 Cleveland weather team click here.