Nebraskans couldn’t escape the heat this summer — not even at night
Minimum temperatures have shot up, presenting an overlooked threat to people, livestock, and crops.
Nebraskans endured sweltering temperatures throughout the summer, even at night, during a recent early September heat wave that saw temperatures soar into the mid-90s Fahrenheit, while nighttime lows remained in the 70s. Pat Wilson-Johnson, a resident from Omaha, lamented that cool summer nights no longer provided relief, as nighttime temperatures still reached 90 to 91 degrees.
Scott Harris, who works at a Salvation Army cooling center in Omaha, noted that many people utilized the facility to cool off after eating lunch and hydrate. The Siena Francis House, a nonprofit aiding individuals experiencing homelessness, also operates a cooling center during heat warnings, open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., but remains prepared to extend services if necessary.
In Lincoln, the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department formulated an extreme heat response plan, with some officials now focusing on nighttime temperature data. The city currently houses one cooling center that operates overnight. A University of Nebraska-Lincoln agriculture meteorology and climate resilience extension educator, Eric Hunt, predicts that Nebraskan minimum temperatures could plummet to the low 70s in the decades ahead, mirroring conditions in southeastern Kansas and southern Missouri.
High minimum temperatures pose numerous threats, including strain on the cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, and mental systems. Vulnerable populations include the elderly, those with specific health conditions or medications, people without air conditioning, the unhoused, student athletes, and outdoor workers. Organizations like Siena Francis House combat the issue by providing water, snacks, and sunscreen to those outdoors during heat waves, particularly those with mental illnesses and substance abuse problems.
The high nighttime temperatures affect more than just human comfort. They impact agriculture, Nebraska's largest industry, with corn and soybeans, the state's primary crops, utilizing more energy and potentially resulting in reduced yields. Higher nighttime temperatures also increase the risk of fungal and bacterial growth, leading to the need for more chemical treatments. While the corn industry has adapted to some extent, long-term effectiveness remains uncertain.
Written by urgent.news from Grist's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
