THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON HAS ISSUED A HEAT ADVISORY WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2009 FOR LIBERTY AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES.

AN EXPANDING UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL BRING VERY WARM TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY LEVELS TO SOUTHEAST TEXAS. OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT WILL ONLY FALL INTO THE UPPER 70S. HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL CLIMB TO BETWEEN 105 AND 113 DEGREES ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON. SURFACE DEW POINTS WILL MIX OUT QUITE A BIT OVER THE EXTREME WESTERN PORTION OF THE AREA SO HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL BE LOWER BUT THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE WILL STILL EXCEED 103 DEGREES. FURTHER EAST...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE AND THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR HIGHER HEAT INDEX VALUES. THE HIGHEST HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL BE ALONG THE US 59 CORRIDOR. COMMUNITIES SUCH AS PEARLAND... SUGARLAND... WHARTON... CONROE AND HOUSTON SHOULD SEE HEAT INDEX VALUES REACH OR EXCEED 108 DEGREES ON THURSDAY. THE HIGHEST HEAT INDEX VALUES SHOULD OCCUR BETWEEN 3 AND 6 PM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

IF YOU PLAN TO BE OUTSIDE...AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE OR STRENUOUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. YOUR BODY CAN LOSE UP TO A GALLON OF WATER AN HOUR THROUGH PERSPIRATION. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS TO AVOID DEHYDRATION. ALCOHOLIC AND CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES CAN INCREASE THE RATE OF WATER LOSS IN YOUR BODY...INCREASING THE RISK OF HEAT EXHAUSTION OR STROKE. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT...LIGHT-COLORED...LOOSE-
FITTING CLOTHING. WEAR A HAT TO SHIELD YOURSELF FROM THE SUN... AND USE A SUNSCREEN TO REDUCE POSSIBLE SUNBURN.