Is it just me, or is it HOT outside? Don’t answer that. YES. It is hot.

A quick trip to weather.com reveals this somewhat ominous warning:

HEAT INDEX VALUES WILL REACH OR EXCEED 100 DEGREES THROUGH FRIDAY IN EAST TENNESSEE PARTICULARLY FROM KNOXVILLE SOUTHWARD. A LARGE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE TENNESSEE VALLEY WILL STRENGTHEN THROUGH THE WEEK. HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD AND WILL LEAD TO SOME OF THE HOTTEST WEATHER SO FAR THIS SUMMER.

AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL REACH INTO THE MID AND UPPER 90S IN MANY VALLEY LOCATIONS…INCLUDING KNOXVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA AND THE TRI-CITIES AREA. THE HOT TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH HUMID CONDITIONS WILL RESULT IN HEAT INDEX VALUES CLIMBING INTO THE 100 TO 105 RANGE TODAY…APPROACHING 105 DEGREES ON WEDNESDAY…AND POSSIBLY GOING AS HIGH AS 110 IN SOME AREAS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION AND STAYING AWARE OF THE THREAT AND TAKING APPROPRIATE ACTION WILL HELP GET THROUGH THE DANGER.

STAY OUT OF THE SUN WHEN POSSIBLE. SLOW DOWN. ANY STRENUOUS ACTIVITY SHOULD BE REDUCED…ELIMINATED OR RESCHEDULED TO THE COOLEST TIME OF THE DAY. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER OR OTHER NON- ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. IF YOU HAVE LIVESTOCK OR PETS…MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PROVIDED WITH PLENTY OF WATER AND SHADE…WHEN POSSIBLE. FINALLY… TAKE TIME OUT TO CHECK ON THOSE NEIGHBORS OR FAMILY MEMBERS THAT MAY BE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE TO HEAT.

Yikes. For once I’m glad I am stuck in an air-conditioned building all day.

—d