CUMBERLAND — The heatwave has caused many area lawns to look and crunch like cornflakes, and some tree leaves are falling way too soon.
But the hot, dry weather has been great for growing algae, Stone Lyons said.
He lives downtown near Giarritta Park where he’s been caring for flowers and a birdbath as recent temperatures have consistently reached mid-90s and rain has been sparse for weeks.
The water-filled basin turned “a couple shades of green” in the hot sun, Lyons said and added he consulted workers at Southern States for help to clean the fountain and keep it safe for critters.
“It’s all part of trying to keep everything beautiful,” he said.
Lyons is one of many volunteers who went “above and beyond” to help protect countless flowers and plants across the city from brutally hot weather, said Ed Mullaney, co-chair of Let’s Beautify Cumberland!
In May, the organization participated in the city’s 27th Annual Day of Caring & Sharing that included more than 500 volunteers who worked at 52 sites across the city.
“We’ve got so much invested in time,” Mullaney said of volunteers who planted flowers that recently needed help to survive the heatwave. “We’ve been watering about every other day.”
Local teamwork to beat the heat is strong, he said.
“The hot weather is kicking our butts, there’s no doubt about it,” Mullaney said.
But, “the spirit of volunteerism is the best I’ve seen in a long time,” he said. “I find more people taking ownership and pitching in and helping out.”
‘More heat and humidity’
On Wednesday, Paul Pastelok, lead long-range forecaster and senior meteorologist at Accuweather, said Cumberland is roughly 50%, or nearly 2.25 inches below, average rainfall for the summer season.
“August still leans drier than wetter unless tropical moisture arrives from the south or southeast,” he said.
Temperatures over the past two weeks have averaged 3.5 to 4 degrees above historical averages, he said.
“Since June 17, the area has seen around 16 days of 90 degrees or higher temperatures,” Pastelok said. “The last two weeks have been much hotter than the last three years at this same time period.”
Locally, the heat wave — defined as three consecutive days with temperatures at 90 degrees or higher — officially started July 4, he said.
“But we have seen hot weather at this level since June 17th,” Pastelok said.
Conditions might be less humid and fail to reach 90 degrees Thursday and Friday, which could break the heat wave but not by much, he said.
“Then you are back into the 90s for the next heat wave period starting this weekend,” Pastelok said.
It will be hot early next week with high temperatures in the 90s and some storms from time to time, he said.
“Another break in the heatwave will arrive Thursday or Friday next week, but again could only be brief,” Pastelok said.
“The rest of the summer will remain above average by a couple of degrees, meaning more heat and humidity,” he said.
‘The elderly and children’
Lack of air conditioning in local homes is leading to heat exhaustion for some patients, said UPMC Western Maryland Director of Emergency Medicine Dr. Rameen Shafiei.
“We are seeing similar and maybe even slightly higher cases of heat exhaustion and dehydration for this time of year,” he said. “This has impacted the elderly and children the most.”
The emergency department has treated patients “who have been overworking or have been outside for extended periods of time, causing increased heat and sun exposure,” Shafiei said.
“The most common symptoms we are seeing are dehydration and muscle cramping,” he said. “In rare extremes this can lead all the way to delirium and heat stroke.”
However, patients rarely need to be admitted to the hospital, Shafiei said.
“Fortunately, most patients do really well following being administered IV fluids and cooling efforts,” he said.
Kendra Thayer, chief nursing officer at Garrett Regional Medical Center and Potomac Valley Hospital, said the facilities are seeing normal summer volumes with no uptick from the heat.
She urges people to drink plenty of water and avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day if possible.
Consistent with climate change
Annette Cormany, horticulture educator at the University of Maryland Extension in Washington County, said more frequent temperature extremes and droughts in recent years are consistent with climate change.
This season, the weather has caused stress for local vegetation, especially newer plantings.
“Growth slows and plants need more water,” she said. “Trees drop some leaves which is normal and reduces the energy they need to maintain their leaves.”
Brown lawns are an indication they have gone dormant and don’t need supplemental watering unless they are new, Cormany said.
“Rain will bring them back,” she said.
While some plants that are less heat-tolerant and drought-resistant have died, deep-rooted, well-adapted native plants “are weathering this weather best,” Cormany said.
The best thing to help plants is “water deeply and well,” she said.
“Frequent light waterings are not as helpful as good, deep soaks,” Cormany said. “Your goal should be to soak the entire root ball at least twice a week. Using smart tools such as soaker hoses, drip irrigation and rain barrels can make this easier and cut water costs.”
Wildlife, including insects, are feeling the effects of the heat and drought and some are more aggressively feeding on plants for their water content, she said.
“But nine out of 10 insects are good bugs that help control bad bugs,” Cormany said. “Help them by adding rocks to a shallow bowl or birdbath so they can sip safely.”