Minnesota weather: Prepare for dangerous heat on Tuesday

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Tuesday is going to be a scorcher in the Twin Cities with dangerous heat across the area.

High temperatures will reach the upper 90s and the heat index will top out near 103. An excessive heat warning is in effect until Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the metro with areas to the south and east in a heat advisory.

With the high temps, it's a good idea to keep an eye on the very young, the very old, and the very hairy (ie: your pets).

Twin Cities residents prepare for heat

Lillie Rapp is going on one year of living without air conditioning in her Dinkytown rental.

"I’m nervous about it," Rapp told FOX 9. "It’s really, really hot, I live in the very top two levels of the attic."

Up there, on a day like Tuesday, where forecasts have a high temperature just shy of 100 degrees, she’s gotten used to the heat. But, it still makes it hard to do anything.

"It’s hard to get air movement in and out of the room, so it’s a lot of still hot air," Rapp said.

Tiger Plumbing And Air General Manager Dave Peppelman is expecting a big spike in business because of Tuesday’s warm-up.

He has these bits of advice to stay cool, for anyone else without air conditioning, saying, "Make sure you keep your blinds closed…  keep fans running… and then just try to eliminate the amount of times you’re opening your doors to your house."

Tips from the state on avoiding heat-related illness

• Drink more fluids (non-alcoholic), regardless of your activity level. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Warning: If your doctor generally limits the amount of fluid you drink or has you on water pills, ask how much you should drink while the weather is hot.
• Don’t drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar–these cause you to lose more body fluid. Also, avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
• Stay indoors and, if possible, stay in an air-conditioned place. If your home does not have air conditioning, go to the shopping mall or public library–even a few hours spent in air conditioning can help your body stay cooler when you go back into the heat. Call your local health department or Red Cross chapter to see if there are any heat-relief shelters in your area.
• Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath, or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off.
• Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
• NEVER leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
• Although anyone can suffer from heat-related illness, some people are at greater risk than others. Check regularly on: Infants and young children, People aged 65 or older, People who have a mental illness, and Those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure

If you must be out in the heat

• Limit your outdoor activity to morning and evening hours
• Cut down on exercise. If you must exercise, drink two-to-four glasses of cool, nonalcoholic fluids each hour. A sports beverage can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. Warning: If you are on a low-salt diet, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage. Remember the warning in the first "tip" (above).
• Try to rest often, in shady areas
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat (also keeps you cooler) and sunglasses and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher (the most effective products say "broad spectrum" or "UVA/UVB protection" on their labels).