Heat in Vehicles Can Become Deadly Quickly

Thunderstorms and Heavy Rains in the Appalachians

Multiple rounds of moderate to locally heavy rain will impact portions of the Appalachians and Mid-Atlantic, which may lead to flash flooding concerns. Thunderstorms with isolated severe wind gusts will be possible this afternoon from parts of the Southeast into the southern and central Appalachians. A multi-day heavy rain will pose a flash flood threat in New Mexico beginning Tuesday. Read More >

On a hot, sunny day, temperatures inside a vehicle can become deadly quickly.

Here is an experiment we did at the National Weather Service on a mostly sunny day with a temperature probe in a parked van with the windows closed up. The air temperature was 94 F when the experiment began at 2:09 PM.

You can see that the temperture exceeds 100 F by 2:15 PM, 110 F by 2:28, and 115 F by 2:37 PM. Had this been a car with a smaller volume, the rise would have been even quicker.

The National Weather Service reminds everybody to never leave a child or animal in a closed vehicle on a sunny day. The results can become tragic quickly.