New: NWS HeatRisk, a color-coded tool to help the public understand the risk of heat, changing weather patterns, and health

Table listing all five levels and summarizing the risks of heat-related impacts

The National Weather Service (NWS) has launched NWS HeatRisk, a new way for NWS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help the public understand how heat might affect them. NWS and the CDC take into account individuals with heat sensitivity, those without cool environments, and those with limited access to hydration in addition to “how unusual the heat is for the time of the year, the duration of the heat including both daytime and nighttime temperatures, and if those temperatures pose an elevated risk of heat-related impacts based on data from the CDC.”

Map showing heat risk for Virginia and Maryland, all but NNK is blurred

This experimental tool “provides seven-day heat risk forecasts” and supplements official NWS heat products.

NWS is encouraging users to provide feedback using this online form.


Zooming in on the NNK

The map gets only so granulated but for the purpose, it’s more than adequate. The top image on the right illustrates the closest zoom.

Details pop up when you click on the map as is shown on the bottom image to the right. As is the case now, the site links to information about the hazardous weather conditions, in this case, a heat advisory.

HeatRisk map with details for Lottsburg, June 23-29

The advisory applies to Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula plus. The advisory take-aways:

  • HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING

  • WHAT...Heat index values of 103 to 108 expected

  • IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses