RV travelers visiting Hot Springs, Arkansas, and nearby areas should have prepared for afternoon heat on Sept. 16. A Heat Advisory updated by NWS Little Rock at 12:02 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) that day warned of heat index values up to 106°F and the risk of heat illness from high humidity.
Areas Affected
Garland County, home to Hot Springs, was included, along with Hot Spring, Clark, and Pike counties and parts of Montgomery County. Cities in the advisory included Hot Springs, Arkadelphia, Mount Ida, and Mena.
The advisory for this area remained in effect until 8 p.m. CDT on the 16th. Travelers arriving from the Pacific time zone should check that their phone display matches local time.
The 106°F forecast was a heat index value that accounted for humidity. It was not the actual air temperature at a campsite, and being near a park or lake did not eliminate the strain of outdoor heat.
What RV Travelers Need to Know
Strenuous tasks such as leveling an RV and organizing gear were best moved to cooler hours whenever possible. During the work, frequent breaks in shade or air-conditioned spaces were advisable, as was scaling back midday walking or cycling plans.
The NWS recommended drinking water often, wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, and checking on older adults and family members who are ill. Anyone under medical instructions to limit fluid intake should follow guidance from a health care provider before increasing water consumption.
Children and pets should never be left in a vehicle without air conditioning. If a campground could not provide a sufficiently cool space, travelers should make a plan to relocate to an air-conditioned location and base the next day’s plans on newly updated advisories.
Source: Latest NWS Heat Advisory · NWS heat safety guidance
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