Widespread power outages from extreme heat not expected, Duquesne Light says
Summer is finally here, and the weather is nice, but the greater Pittsburgh area is bracing for a heat wave in the coming days, and that can pose dangers for your family and home.
The sun is shining once again, and by Sunday, it's going to cause a scorcher, not just here, but across the country.
Just as summer kicks off, so too are the 90s, and temperatures are feeling like the triple digits, and folks have mixed opinions.
Ronel Alegiojo, who's visiting from Baltimore, Maryland, said things could be worse.
"Oh, I'm 100% ready," Alegiojo said. "It's better than snow."
Aundalynn Aljoe of DuBois felt the same.
"Bring it on," Aljoe said.
For Aljoe, it's a great change after the rainy, cloudy weather we've had.
"I feel like we're kind of owed a little bit of sun and warmth. I'm excited for it," Aljoe said.
However, the heat comes with some risks to your health, so stay hydrated and dress for the weather, and, at home, prepare for the unpredictable.
Matt Neistein with Duquesne Light Company said they're not anticipating problems with a greater load on the electrical grid.
"The data that we have right now says that there should not be any widespread outages, as it stands," Neistein said.
Just in case, keep your devices charged and have an emergency kit with things like non-perishable food, water, and batteries.
Residents are also advised to reduce their electricity use by using fans, closing doors to rooms, and unplugging appliances.
"You can raise the thermostat a few degrees, particularly between 2 and 6 p.m., which is the time of highest usage," Neistein said.
If your power does go out, report it as soon as possible, and keep your freezer and refrigerator doors closed.
Also, be sure to check in on your older family, friends, and neighbors who live alone.
Neistein said they'll be staffed up as a precaution.
"I really hope we can just get this over with, but we still have July coming up, so we've got a long summer, and this is just the beginning," Alegiojo said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Latest Met Office maps show when and where thunderstorms will hit as weather alert in place
Glorious sunshine and sizzling temperatures hit the UK in recent days, with the country going through a June heatwave. But conditions are set to change in some areas today (June 21) - with a warning in place for thunderstorms. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms, coming into force at 3pm this afternoon and lasting until 4am on Sunday. READ MORE: The full list of UK areas covered by Met Office 13-hour thunderstorm warning READ MORE: Ryanair passenger kicked off flight to Spain after attempting money-saving trick It covers all of northern England, except parts of Cumbria and Northumberland, plus north-east Wales and northern parts of the Midlands. In these areas, the Met Office is warning of 'scattered thunderstorms' which could bring sudden flash flooding and thunder strikes. The latest Met Office maps show much of the area covered by the warning could remain dry throughout Saturday. However, a number of heavy spells of rain look set to make their way across the North on Saturday evening. Met Office maps show potentially storming conditions around Manchester, Sheffield and the Peak District at 7pm. An hour later, they are expected to move north into the Pennines, towards North Yorkshire and the North East (pictured top). By 9pm, the Met Office map shows patches of heavy rain across the North East and the Scottish borders. A Met Office spokesperson said: "Whilst many places will likely remain dry and unaffected, scattered thunderstorms may develop during Saturday afternoon, lasting through the evening hours, moving northeastwards before eventually clearing to the North Sea by the early hours of Sunday. "The most intense thunderstorms could produce frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds, along with some heavy downpours for a time. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE "This may lead to some surface water impacts in places."
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Enjoying the sun across the North East and Cumbria
Temperatures are predicted to surpass 29C (84.2F) today in some areas of north-east England and Cumbria. However, by Sunday - although it will still be warm - there is the chance of a few thundery showers. While it's still glorious for sunseekers, here's a selection of the best pictures of people having fun in the sun and nature at its best. Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram. Temperatures surpass 29C as UK heads for heatwave
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Yellow weather warning for Bolton this afternoon as the hot weather continues
A yellow weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued for the region. The warning is in place from 3pm today until 4am tomorrow. Temperatures in the town will continue to be high, reaching 26 degrees celsius today. The forecast is for sunny spells and scattered showers across the borough during the day, the Met Office forecast. Temperatures will remain high through the day, falling to just 18 degrees tonight. Scattered thunderstorms are set to mix with continued high temperatures on Saturday with up to 34C possible in some areas of the UK. The Met Office warned the most intense storms could produce 'frequent lightning, large hail and gusty winds', along with a chance of flooding More: Five easy ways to stay cool and sleep better during a heatwave Read more: Bolton: Met Office issues yellow weather warning for thunderstorms More: Heatwave Mounjaro warning issued for millions as temperatures soar The weather warning covers all of northern England, from Nottingham up to above Newcastle, will come into force from 3pm and last until 4am on Sunday. An amber heat-health alert for all regions in England is also in place for the whole of the weekend, after heatwaves were triggered across the county and in Wales on Friday. Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: 'There are scattered thunderstorms coming through. 'Some of the rain could be quite intense, and frequent lightning, hail, gusty winds and some heavy downpours, which we haven't seen for a while. 'Some of the ground is quite hard at the moment, and when you get heavy rain hitting hard ground, it can cause surface water issues. 'You might find surface water on the roads, drains finding it difficult to cope and a small chance of homes being flooded.' An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three consecutive days, with thresholds varying from 25C to 28C in different parts of the UK. The Met Office confirmed that 'many places' in England and 'one or two areas' in Wales, including Cardiff, entered a heatwave on Friday. Aidan McGovern, meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'At the moment, the temperatures will be highest towards the east, [with] lower temperatures in the west compared with Friday but still high humidity, so it's going to feel oppressive in many places, and [there is] always a chance of some showers developing as the day progresses, particularly towards the west. 'Temperatures [will be] peaking at 31 to 33, or 34C, somewhere between London and Midlands and north-east England.' There will also be very high UV and pollen levels across the country on Saturday, the forecaster said. Temperatures reached 32.2C in Kew, west London, on Thursday, making it the warmest day of the year so far, while Friday saw highs of 30.8C recorded in both England and Wales. The amber heat-health alert, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for the first time since September 2023, is in force until 9am on Monday. It warns 'significant impacts are likely' across health and social care services because of high temperatures, including a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or people with health conditions. Following the hot weather, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) urged the public to take heat and water safety seriously. During 2022's heatwave, temperatures rose past 40C, leading to 320 people being treated in hospital. Steve Cole, policy director at RoSPA, said: 'Heat is no longer just a holiday perk — it's a growing public health risk. 'We're seeing more frequent and intense heatwaves, both in the UK and globally, and the data shows a clear rise in heat-related illness and fatalities. 'Warm weather can also be deceptive when it comes to going for a dip. 'While the air may feel hot, water temperatures often remain dangerously cold, which can lead to cold-water shock, even in summer.'
