This news item expired on Saturday, May 17, 2025 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
Buncombe County is under a Heat Health Alert on Friday, May 16, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Heat Health Alert System. The maximum heat index in the county is expected to reach 87 degrees, which is above the threshold identified by NCDHHS for the area.
The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when relative humidity is combined with the air temperature.
Temperatures this high can be dangerous for everyone, including pets. These temperatures can be especially dangerous for those exposed to heat more frequently or for people who are more vulnerable to heat. This includes:
- Older Adults
- People with Disabilities
- Outdoor Workers
- Children
- Those without air conditioning
- Pregnant Women
- Pets
Take actions now to prevent heat-related illnesses:
- Drink plenty of fluids but avoid sugary or alcoholic drinks.
- Reduce outdoor activities.
- Wear light-colored, lightweight clothing.
- Stay in air-conditioning as much as possible. If there is no A/C at home, consider visiting areas with A/C including public libraries, churches, or a neighbor's home. Buncombe County’s Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) assists low-income households in a heating or cooling-related emergency. Click here for more information.
- Never leave kids or pets in a car.
- Provide shade and water for pets and bring them indoors if it is too hot outside. Click here to learn more about keeping pets safe.
Symptoms of heat-related illness include:
- Heat Exhaustion: Dizziness, thirst, heavy sweating, nausea or weakness.
- Heat Stroke: Confusion, dizziness, and becoming unconscious.
If these symptoms are present, you should act fast by moving to a cooler area, loosening clothing, and sipping on cool water. Heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke. If a heat stroke is suspected, call 911 immediately. Heat stroke can result in death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not given.
Check on your friends, family, and neighbors, and prepare now for extreme heat.
Heat Health Alerts are sent out by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to alert the community when the heat index is projected to be unusually high for a region. To learn more about the Heat Health Alert or sign up to receive alerts, visit the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services website.