We managed some heavy rain over at least parts of the Ga. wildfires Wed. evening. The fires won't be out, but the rain will help. And now we'll be entering the period I've been talking about for days: scattered to numerous afternoon showers & thunderstorms Thu. through Fri. into the weekend & probably right on into early next week. While not every place will get rain every day, every place will get at least some rain from Thu. through Mon. & some spots -- especially inland -- will see a good deal of rain.
Winds will continue to generally be from a southerly to southwest direction which will keep most of the smoke over SE Ga. But as we saw Wed., subtle small scale weather changes can alter the smoke pattern. The dense smoke near ground level about midday Wed. in Jax was caused when upper level smoke was brought to the surface by convection. As the surface warmed in the morning and air parcels rose, the smoke aloft was eventually brought to the surface as the air "mixed" bringing the upper level smoke closer to the ground. Shifting & variable winds in & near storms could also cause smoke plumes to change course erratically.
Photos below....(1) John Schmitt, Jax....(2) Mike Martin, St. Marys, Ga.....(3) Paul Elkins -- a good sight: cumulonimbus (thunderstorms) in the distance.
From the St. Johns Co. Health Dep't.:
HEALTH DEPARTMENT CAUTIONS ABOUT DEHYDRATION AND HEAT EXHAUSTION
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL – With summer officially upon us, and as temperatures soar into the triple digits, Dawn Allicock, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the St. Johns County Health Department, reminds everyone take precautions against dehydration and heat exhaustion.
Signs of dehydration include thirst, weakness, nausea, muscle cramps, feeling dizzy and light headed, decreased urine levels and/or urine that has a strong odor or is darker than normal, tiredness, sluggishness, irritability and headaches. All, some, or none of these signs may be present, so the best way to avoid dehydration is to monitor water or fluid intake, and modify activity or reduce the length of activity according to weather conditions.
“Don't wait for the dry mouth, flushed skin, headaches, lightheadedness or fatigue. You can prevent dehydration by drinking fluids throughout the day,” said Dawn Allicock, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the St. Johns County Health Department. “Avoid becoming dehydrated by staying out of the direct sun, wearing light colored loose fitting clothing, limiting physical activity, and using fans when available.”
If you suspect you are becoming dehydrated, get to a cool or shady area and sip cool water or fluids. If your condition does not improve, seek medical attention immediately.
To avoid becoming dehydrated, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, even if you don’t feel thirsty. This is particularly true on days when temperatures reach 90°F and higher. Depending upon your physical activity and heat exposure during hot weather, it’s a good idea to drink more water. Persons who have medical conditions such as kidney and heart disease, who require a fluid restricted diet, or who have problems with fluid retention should consult a physician before increasing their consumption of fluids.
Babies from birth to 6 months: Healthy infants normally do not need extra water. On a hot day, a small amount of water may be needed, but check with your physician on how much to give.
Babies from 6 - 12 months: Breast or formula-fed babies that are receiving solid foods should also be receiving water.
Children 12 months and older: Should be reminded to drink fluids, preferably water throughout the day. They should be encouraged to drink more on hot days.
Adults: Should drink fluids, preferably water, throughout the day. When exposed to temperatures reaching 90°F and higher, depending on physical activity level and heat exposure, adults should drink even more water.
Heat exhaustion is a form of heat-related illness that can develop after exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids. Those most prone to heat exhaustion are elderly people, people with high blood pressure and people working or exercising in a hot environment. Warning signs of heat exhaustion vary, but may include the following:
· Heavy sweating
· Paleness
· Muscle cramps
· Weakness
· Dizziness
· Headache
· Nausea or vomiting
· Fainting
· Skin - May be cool and moist
· Pulse rate - Fast and weak
· Breathing - Fast and shallow
If heat exhaustion is untreated, it may progress to heat stroke. Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms are severe, or the victim has heart problems or high blood pressure. Otherwise, help the victim to cool off and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or last longer than one hour. If heat exhaustion is suspected, cooling measures that may be effective include the following:
· Drink cool, nonalcoholic beverages, as directed by your physician
· Rest in an air-conditioned environment
· Take a cool shower, bath or sponge bath
· Wear lightweight clothing
· Prevent sun burn (which damages the skin's ability to dissipate heat) by wearing sunscreen of 30 SPF.
From the Salvation Army....thank you Ashley Furniture!:
Ashley Furniture HomeStore execute “Extreme Makeover” at Salvation Army Shelter
(Jacksonville) Over the past couple of weeks, folks from Ashley Furniture HomeStores have been very busy, working diligently on a unique project for The Salvation Army of NE Florida.
This project involved re-decorating the family gathering room in the The Salvation Army homeless shelter, located at the Towers Memorial Social Services Center in downtown Jacksonville. The room is the center gathering place for homeless families and children residing in the shelter.
“It was a tremendous group effort,” said Kate Banse, Chief Optimizing Officer with Ashley Furniture. “A ton of planning was involved.”
“We removed the outdated furniture, including lamps and wall art,” she said. “We repaired holes in the walls and gave the room fresh paint. The designers then chose a color scheme and headed back to Ashley Furniture HomeStores to pick out the furniture.”
Banse said the carpeting, which was in really bad shape, was pulled up prior to the start of the project and replaced with new tile. The end result, Banse said, will be “beautiful.”
“I can’t wait to be there when the families see the new room,” said Holly Crawford, Social Services Coordinator for The Salvation Army of NE Florida. “They will be thrilled. Ashley Furniture has a true compassion for those hurting in our community. We are so grateful for their generosity.”
Crawford said it’s important to have the room as nice as possible for the families who will be living there.
“Many of our families stay in the shelter for nine months to a year, sometimes more,” she said. “We want our clients to feel comfortable here- as if they were living in their own home.”
Crawford said they will have a “mini reveal” on Wednesday afternoon beginning at 1:30pm with Salvation Army staff and Advisory Board members.
The shelter is located at The Salvation Army Towers Memorial Social Services Center, 900 W. Adams St. in downtown Jacksonville.
BUFFALO WILD WINGS® DONATES 10% OF SALES TO THE SALVATION ARMY -- MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Restaurant Offers Guests Ways to Give Back on June 29, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Buffalo Wild Wings® Grill & Bar announced today that it will donate 10 percent of non-alcoholic sales to The Salvation Army’s Tornado Relief Fund.
“We are always looking for ways to give back to our local community and hopefully help our guests as well,” said Kathy Benning, Buffalo Wild Wings® Executive Vice President Global Marketing & Brand Development. “By offering 10% of sales on June 29 to The Salvation Army, Buffalo Wild Wings and our guests are supporting our friends and neighbors. We are confident that our combined efforts will greatly help the lives of those impacted by the recent horrific tornados.”
Over 400 restaurants are participating nation-wide. Guests can visit any participating Buffalo Wild Wings® on June 29 and 10% of the food sale will benefit The Salvation Army Tornado Relief. All Buffalo Wild Wings in the Jacksonville area will be participating in this event.
“Buffalo Wild Wings’ dedication to service is a blessing. Through this partnership, Salvation Army caseworkers and disaster response personnel will serve even more survivors as they rebuild their lives and homes.” Jeff Jellets, Territorial Disaster Coordinator for The Salvation Army.
Customers unable to visit a restaurant can also donate online -- click here.
