Update at 11:00 a.m. — WMATA has announced that passengers on Metrorail and Metrobus will be permitted to carry water in sealable, reusable bottles or containers until Friday.
Arlington and the surrounding region is under a heat advisory this afternoon.
Forecasters say the temperature will rise to the upper 90s, while the heat index will reach 105. Those who must be outside today are advised to take appropriate safety precautions. The dangerous heat is expected to linger through at the end of the work week.
From the National Weather Service.
… HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM EDT TUESDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS ISSUED A HEAT ADVISORY… WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 7 PM EDT TUESDAY.
* HEAT INDEX VALUES… AROUND 105 DEGREES WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S… AND DEWPOINTS IN THE LOW 70S.
* IMPACTS… RISK OF HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS FOR THOSE WITHOUT AIR- CONDITIONING OR THOSE OUTDOORS FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HIGH TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE.
TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE… RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO EARLY MORNING OR EVENING. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER.
TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK… THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY – CALL 9 1 1.