The National Weather Service in Blacksburg will be lowering the criteria needed for heat advisories and excessive heat warnings for our mountain counties this summer,
The heat advisory will be lowered from 105 to 100 degrees and from 110 to 105 degrees for excessive heat warnings.
More people in the United States are killed by heat annually than any other weather hazard.
Research shows locally emergency room visits due to heat related illnesses are occurring below the former heat advisory and warning criteria.
This research combined with input from health officials and Emergency Management led to this change.
Here's a list of the counties/cities that will have the changes:
VA: Alleghany, Bath, Bland, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth, Tazewell, Wythe