Columbia heats up for final days of Boone County Fair
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Temperatures are climbing and combined with humidity they'll push the heat index over 100 degrees for the final days of the Boone County Fair.
The fair draws crowds outside for hours of carnival rides, food, family-friendly shows and Saturday's Ham Breakfast. But with extreme heat moving in, first responders and health experts warn fairgoers about heat exhaustion.
The Stormtrack weather team has issued a Weather Alert Day because of the heat, with heat indexes around the area expected to reach 100 to 105 degrees Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures and humidity are likely to ease Monday with a front coming in that could bring rain but temperatures could soar into the mid-90s again in the middle of the week.
The last day of the fair is Saturday and will kick off with the 8 a.m. Ham Breakfast. The fair will close its gates until next year at 9 p.m. Saturday, wrapping up the week-long event.
Brad Fraizer with the Columbia Fire Department said people should avoid being outside for extended periods of time when temperatures reach extreme highs. If you do have to go outside, Fraizer advises people to stay hydrated, avoid alcohol and to try not to exert too much energy.
"Typically confusion, your skin gets cool and clammy, nausea, is another sign, you start, not feeling well," Fraizer said. "That's usually a pretty good sign as you need to get out of eating get hydrated."
The signs of heat exhaustion are dizziness, fatigue and nausea, Fraizer said. If there is an emergency, call 911 for medical help.
The Boone County fair has an air conditioned building where fair-goers can escape the heat and see art, ham and a livestock sales.
"If people come out tonight or tomorrow and feel like they're getting a little overheated, you're more than welcome to go inside those buildings," said Jeff Cook, president of the fair board.
