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Breaking it Down with Brittney - Why do we SWEAT?

Evaporative Cooling Explainer
Posted at 11:16 AM, Jun 07, 2021
and last updated 2021-06-07 12:16:30-04

WHY DO WE SWEAT? Well, the current heat wave we're in, broke records on Saturday June 5th, with a high temperature of 95°. Plus, the weekend was filled with extreme heat, 3 days in a row, climbing to the 90s. Amidst this unusual spike in temperatures, many of us are sweating, if spending any time outdoors.

95° on June 5th, 2021 set the days all time high record temperature.

We didn't always have air conditioning, so our body has a natural way of cooling us down.

In the video above, Meteorologist Brittney Merlot explains evaporative cooling and how it reduces our body temperature through sweating.

This is the hottest we've felt in Green Bay, in the past 3 years!

But high humidity interrupts this cooling process, find out why!

Dew points have been in the low 70s this weekend and into the beginning of this week.

Beware of heat exhaustion, which is a condition characterized by dehydration, caused by exposure to high temperatures. It can sneak up on you quickly and include signs of:

  • Dizziness
  • Clammy skin
  • Headache
  • Muscle cramps
  • Extreme thirst
  • Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
  • Dehydration
  • Fainting
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Weakness
  • Decreased urine output
Tips to stay hydrated and safe in the high heat.