97 Degrees, Feels Like Hell

Tonight as I left work, the Weather Channel told me it was 97 degrees outside but that it "feels like" 100 degrees. Really?! It is June. Summer just started people.
By the time it really heats up I am going to be cranky as all get out.

How bad is it? How about this? We had not one, but two air quality warnings issued today. And on top of that the National Weather Service issued this general alert.

Issued by The National Weather Service

Baltimore/Washington, MD

10:53 am EDT, Wed., Jun. 23, 2010

... HEAT INDEX VALUES NEAR 100 DEGREES THIS AFTERNOON...

HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL COVER THE MID ATLANTIC REGION TODAY. AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL RISE INTO THE MID 90S EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE. THE COMBINATION OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL GENERATE HEAT INDEX VALUES NEAR 100 DEGREES DURING THE AFTERNOON.

THESE VALUES CAN BE A CONCERN FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS SUCH AS INFANTS AND THE ELDERLY. THEREFORE... SIMPLE PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS TO DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS. WATER IS YOUR BEST CHOICE AS IT PREVENTS DEHYDRATION. CONSIDER TAKING FREQUENT BREAKS IN THE SHADE DURING THE AFTERNOON SUN. SEEK AN AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT DURING THE HOTTEST PART OF THE DAY. ALSO REMEMBER THAT THE INTERIOR OF YOUR CAR HEATS UP QUICKLY. DO NOT LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS IN AN ENCLOSED CAR FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME... NOT EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS CRACKED.

So much for wonderful lazy days of summer.