ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —

Temperatures in Asheville continue to climb with only the chance for isolated storms as a small reprieve. Officials warn that long-term exposure to extreme heat conditions can be dangerous to a person’s health, offering several ways to stay safe.

The National Weather Service predicts high temperatures in the region will peak on Wednesday, June 26, in the low 90s ahead of a cold front.

The chance for showers and thunderstorms increases Wednesday into Thursday, June 27, as the cold front moves through the region. More storms are expected through the weekend. Hot and humid conditions will persist on Sunday with more thunderstorms expected in the area.

Those having to work outdoors or those exposed to the heat and humidity for long periods of time are encouraged to take steps to protect themselves. According to ReadyNC.gov, the state’s Emergency Management website, heat can be deadly because “it pushes the human body past what it can handle.”

Officials provided the following tips for staying safe during some of the hottest days:

  • Eat well-balanced, light and regular meals. Avoid using salt tablets unless told to do so by a doctor.
  • Drink plenty of water, even if you do not feel thirsty. Stay away from drinks with caffeine. People who have epilepsy or heart, kidney, or liver disease; are on fluid-restricted diets; or have a problem with fluid retention should talk with a doctor before increasing liquid intake.
  • Limit the number of alcoholic beverages you drink.
  • Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover a lot of skin. Try not to wear dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
  • Protect face and head by wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Avoid hard work during the warmest part of the day. Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat, and take breaks often.
  • Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning and who spend much of their time alone.
  • Stay away from extreme temperature changes.
  • Check on your animals often to make sure that they are not suffering from the heat.

Some terms to be familiar with include:

  • Heat Wave – Long period of excessive heat, often shared with excessive humidity.
  • Heat Index – A number in degrees Fahrenheit (F) that tells how hot it feels when relative humidity is added to the air temperature. Being in full sunshine can raise the heat index by 15 degrees.
  • Heat Cramps – Muscular pains and spasms caused by doing a lot of heavy actions. Heat cramps are not the worst. They are often the first signal that the body is having trouble with the heat.
  • Heat Exhaustion – Typically occurs when people exercise heavily or work in a hot, humid place where body fluids are lost through heavy sweating. There is more blood flow to the skin. This causes blood flow to decrease to the main organs. This causes a form of mild shock. If not treated, the person’s problems will get worse. Body temperature will keep rising, and the victim may suffer heat stroke.
  • Heat Stroke – A life-threatening condition. The victim’s temperature control system, which makes sweating to cool the body, stops working. The body temperature can rise so high it can cause brain damage and death if the body is not cooled quickly.
  • Sun Stroke – Another way to say heat stroke.
  • Excessive Heat Watch – There is a good chance for an excessive heat event to meet or exceed local Excessive Heat Warning criteria in the next 24 to 72 hours.
  • Excessive Heat Warning – Heat Index values are forecast to meet or exceed locally defined warning criteria for at least two days (daytime highs=105-110° Fahrenheit).
  • Heat Advisory – Heat Index values are forecast to meet locally defined advisory criteria for one to two days (daytime highs=100-105° Fahrenheit).

Click here for more heat safety tips from the National Weather Service.