Student Final Station Installs Continue Despite Triple-digit Heat in Palo Duro Canyon

On Tuesday, June 8th, WTAMU students installed the last (#21) Temperature and Humidity Weather Station under difficult working conditions near the famous lighthouse in Palo Duro Canyon State Park, which is a very popular hiking destination. This one is located around 3.7 miles from the trailhead, and required several hours of hiking in the heat! Some wildlife helped distract from the heat and biting flies, including a box turtle and dung beetles. The Park hit 100 degrees F for the first time this year on Tuesday with higher temps forecast by the National Weather Service the next several days. A heat advisory is in effect for the park Wednesday until 6 pm. An intensive observational period (IOP) will be conducted on Thursday by WTAMU students in the park to get additional measurements of the heat. A blog post outlining what they did will be posted on Friday. 

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Amarillo TX
1004 AM CDT Wed Jun 9 2021

TXZ317-092300-
/O.CON.KAMA.HT.Y.0001.210609T1800Z-210609T2300Z/
Palo Duro Canyon-
Including the cities of Palo Duro Canyon State Park
1004 AM CDT Wed Jun 9 2021

...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...High temperature near 105 degrees is expected this
  afternoon.

* WHERE...Palo Duro Canyon County.

* WHEN...Until 6 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat
  illnesses.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.

Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose
fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning
or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.