The dog days of summer are officially in full swing.
Over the past week, the National Weather Service has issued three heat advisories for Harris County with temperatures reaching a record-tying 102 F, though some relief from the heat appears to be on the horizon with the trade-off of lots of rainfall.
With Hurricane Dean expected to move into the Southern Gulf of Mexico later today through early Wednesday, UH students should expect a high chance of rain midweek, keeping the temperatures in the low 90s for the rest of the week.
NWS Public Affairs Officer and Meteorologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Dennis Feltgen, predicts Hurricane Dean may hit closer to Mexico.
"Hurricane Dean is on course to hit Mexico or further down the southern coast of Texas," Feltgen said. "The Houston area may experience some significant rainfall should the hurricane impact areas surrounding Houston."
Feltgen said hurricanes similar to Dean typically keep temperatures low.
"The cloud cover from hurricanes usually provide some relief from the heat, relief Texas could use during these near record-high temperature days," Feltgen said.
The seven-day forecast looks to have a 20-to-30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms with temperatures ranging from high 70s to low 90s, according to NWS.
The UH Staff Council is sponsoring a "Cool to be a Cougar" program through Cougar First Impressions and will provide students with refreshments to keep cool and hydrated.
On the first two days of classes between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., UH Staff Council members and volunteers will hand out bottles of water, provide maps to help students navigate around campus and distribute parking permit information- rain or shine.
"There will be 19 tables containing bottles of water scattered throughout campus," UH Administrative Assistant of Residential Life and Housing Rebecca Szwarc, events committee chair said. "In addition to bottles of water, members will also be handing out ice cream between (Philip Guthrie Hoffman Hall) and the Library from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the first two days of classes."
Kinesiology senior Jenny Jeffers said he drinks lots of water to stay cool when walking to classes.
"I make sure I pack a bottle of water every morning," Jeffers said. "I also try to wear light-colored clothing that does not attract the sun."
The UH Health Center is also available for people affected by the heat, and Chief Nurse Laura Moore said that she has seen her share of heat-related illnesses.
"Every summer, people come into the Center saying that they are too hot," Moore said.
Certain conditions that can occur when exposed to high levels of heat include heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Symptoms of heat illnesses include skin redness and pain, painful spasms in muscles, heavy sweating, weakness, fainting, vomiting and a high body temperature of 106 degrees and higher.
Anyone experiencing these systems is urged to contact the UH Health Center at (713) 743-5151.
