Hot Weather

Hot weather may trigger angina, a serious, painful heart condition that affects 6.8 million Americans, many of them over age 65. Summer activities often add to the difficulty. Here are tips from the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association: Hot weather can raise body temperature and lead to an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Don't exercise in midday heat. Wear clothing that allows the body to "breathe" and body heat to evaporate. Exertion can bring on an angina attack, so patients who are already including moderate exercise in their routines should transition slowly into an outdoor exercise routine.

The weather page in The Sun's Sunday print edition warned of a wet long-term forecast for Labor Day weekend and the Grand Prix of Baltimore. As the weekend nears, though, the weather is looking dry -- and hot. The National Weather Service is forecasting partly to mostly cloudy skies and highs in the mid- to upper-80s for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. AccuWeather.com is forecasting highs of 90 degrees Friday and Saturday and 86 on Monday. The biggest chance of rain appears to be on Monday, with about a 40 percent chance of precipitation, according to the Climate Prediction Center.

The mild winter meant a dearth of heating degree days. Early in the cooling degree days season, the warm trend is having the opposite result. Degree days are a measure of how much energy is needed to warm homes to 65 degrees in winter. One degree day means a one-degree difference between a day's average temperature and 65.   The heating season was more than 1,100 degree days short of normal because the mild weather meant furnaces were given a break. The average temperature this winter was 5 degrees above normal, making it one of the mildest winters on record , and the 1.8 inches of snow was the least since 1972.

With a daytime high of 98 degrees in Owings Mills according to Weather.com, staying cool at Ravens training camp was a challenge for the players and coaches on the practice fields. Wide receivers Torrey Smith and LaQuan Williams both dealt with leg cramps caused by dehydration, and at one point, free safety Ed Reed wondered aloud where the I.V. drips were. Fans who attended Thursday afternoon's session were treated to popsicles. Still, coach John Harbaugh said the hot and humid weather is a good barometer for how diligent the players were during the offseason.

Summer sickness isn't limited to humans -- watch for these common hot weather pet problems. Paw burns or cuts What it looks like: Your pet will likely be limping or avoiding walking on the affected paw, says Kim Hammond, owner and director of Falls Road Animal Hospital. The paw might be red, and the pad might be cracked, he said. What to do: If the pad is torn, raw or bleeding, Hammond recommends you take your pet to its vet for a checkup, as this can lead to infection.

Folks, it's been so rainy the past few days that next week's forecasts of 80+-degree days could feel like a shock. And if this is the first time you consider firing up your cooling system, your electricity bills a month from now might seem even more shocking. So, consider taking some preventative measures Saturday (while temps are still in the high 70s) to keep things cool without blowing your budget. The Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program suggests these tips: Change to More Efficient Light Bulbs.

We can't do anything to change the weather, so we might as well accept it. Complaining about record high temperatures is so yesterday. According to the forecast it could also be so today, so tomorrow and possibly so Friday. Instead of whining about big heat, members of previous generations used it to improve their powers of humorous description. When the temperature soared, they said it was hotter than a hen in a wool blanket, hotter than a burnt boot, hotter than the hinges of Hades, hotter than the devil's underwear, hotter than love in haying time, or hotter than blue blazes.

At this writing, it is positively chilly - 91 degrees. But warmer temperatures are on the way. After all, it is summer! Well, this summer Melinda Cianos' dream came true. When one embarks on a big undertaking, it's always nice to have the love and support of family, friends and neighbors. Melinda certainly had it, and her achievement of a bachelor's degree in education - at age 45 - is the result! "People talk about a village, and that is exactly what Rodgers Forge is," she said.

Temperatures in the 90s returned to Harford County Thursday and were expected through Friday, if not longer, prompting the county to take steps to protect residents. With the heat index expected to reach nearly 105 degrees on Thursday, Harford County government, in cooperation with Harford County Public Library and the Harford County Health Department, once again used local libraries as cooling centers for the public. One incident involving heat exposure was reported on the opening day of the Harford County Farm Fair in Bel Air Thursday afternoon.

Some sports demand hot weather; others go on despite it. If your're training or playing in hot weather some things to think about: * Can you train very early, or late, to avoid the heat of the day. * Think water. Drink lots -- before, during and after exercise. The days of depriving athletes of water in hot weather went away at least 25 years ago. Water, some say, is preferable to high-calorie sports drinks, which may be more suitable for exceptional athletes. * Think shade when your're stretching or cooling off, be it trees, tents, umbrellas or other souces to avoid direct sun. * Wear a hat, if at all possible.

Temperatures in the 90s returned to Harford County Thursday and were expected through Friday, if not longer, prompting the county to take steps to protect residents. With the heat index expected to reach nearly 105 degrees on Thursday, Harford County government, in cooperation with Harford County Public Library and the Harford County Health Department, once again used local libraries as cooling centers for the public. One incident involving heat exposure was reported on the opening day of the Harford County Farm Fair in Bel Air Thursday afternoon.

Queenstown farmer John Draper's corn crop looks bleak - ears that normally have 18 or 20 rows of kernels have 14 rows due to a lack of rain. Others have few or shriveled kernels, and some stalks haven't grown any ears at all. Yet, with a shot at harvesting about 60 percent of his normal yield, Draper considers himself fortunate. Drought conditions that have persisted across Maryland are expected to cut this year's corn crop yield in half. The weather also is threatening soybean crops, and driving up prices for all types of grains, squeezing livestock and poultry farmers.

With record highs on tap for the next few days , experts are reminding us to keep an eye out on our kids and vehicles. The Howard County Police are asking people to remember the kids can get overheated very quickly, and that cars parked in direct sunlight can reach temperatures of 131 degrees to 172 degrees F when outside temperatures are 80-100, and we're expecting higher than 100. "It's critical that caregivers know it is never safe...

The hot weather spell arriving Wednesday could break multiple records. With high temperatures predicted in the upper 90s Wednesday and Thursday, records of 100 degrees for both days could be challenged. The National Weather Service was predicting highs of 98 degrees Wednesday and 100 degrees Thursday, as of Monday night, though the predictions have fluctuated as the heat gets closer. A heat advisory could be issued Wednesday. Lows are forecast at 80 and 79 degrees overnight, also vying to top records for the highest low temperatures of 78 degrees Wednesday and 79 degrees Thursday.

Summer sickness isn't limited to humans -- watch for these common hot weather pet problems. Paw burns or cuts What it looks like: Your pet will likely be limping or avoiding walking on the affected paw, says Kim Hammond, owner and director of Falls Road Animal Hospital. The paw might be red, and the pad might be cracked, he said. What to do: If the pad is torn, raw or bleeding, Hammond recommends you take your pet to its vet for a checkup, as this can lead to infection.

Hot weather in the Baltimore area should drive many to Ocean City this weekend, where cooler weather and sunshine should greet them. The National Weather Service is forecasting highs in the upper 70s with partly cloudy skies and virtually no chance of rain through the Memorial Day weekend. It may not sound too hot, but with a bright sun and high humidity, it should make for nice early-season beach days. The ocean water temperature is running about 66 degrees. Waves are about 2-3 feet high, and the risk of rip currents is low, according to the weather service's surf forecast . Ocean City businesses and tourism officials are expecting the nice weather to drive in tourists for a strong start to the summer.

Staying cool when temperatures are high and the humidity is soup-thick can be a challenge for everyone. But it's a necessity for seniors.Dehydration, heat exhaustion, even sunburn can be serious hazards for those whose bodies already are fragile from age or illness.To help guard against such threats, doctors and health officials who work with the elderly urge precautions that include avoiding long exposure to the heat and staying aware of the body's need for water when the weather gets hot.Barbara Miller, coordinator of the health-wellness program operated by the county's Office on Aging also stresses the importance of staying indoors.

Hot summer weather can sap your strength, reduce your endurance and throw your athletic performance way off balance.If you are a marathon runner, for example, you should expect to add 5 to 15 minutes to your time; pace yourself accordingly. A tennis player who normally can blast a serve at 100 mph might lose up to 15 mph when playing in the heat. Every athlete, when competing in the heat, eventually learns to hold back early to have something left in reserve.This time of year, your heart must work harder.

The mild winter meant a dearth of heating degree days. Early in the cooling degree days season, the warm trend is having the opposite result. Degree days are a measure of how much energy is needed to warm homes to 65 degrees in winter. One degree day means a one-degree difference between a day's average temperature and 65.   The heating season was more than 1,100 degree days short of normal because the mild weather meant furnaces were given a break. The average temperature this winter was 5 degrees above normal, making it one of the mildest winters on record , and the 1.8 inches of snow was the least since 1972.

¿Q: Is it OK for our dog to play in the snow with our kids? A: Generally, yes -- with some caveats. A dog's normal body temperature is about 101 degrees, so they're a little warmer than us internally. But other factors explain why some dogs are better able to withstand winter weather. Small dogs with less body mass have a harder time staying warm. Dogs with double coats -- a top layer and a thick undercoat -- are naturally better insulated against cold (and heat, too, so people shouldn't shave dogs in an attempt to keep them cooler in hot weather)