It was toasty this weekend outside, but inside this car? It felt like a sauna. Many of our cars hit temperatures of 120 to 130 degrees! And that heat leads to serious - dangerous - problems for people and pets.
Every year, an average of 37 children nationwide under the age of 15 die from heatstroke after being left in a hot car according to data from the National Safety Council. In 2024, that number was 39. And not all of these tragedies happen in heat waves.
Most heat deaths actually happen outside of them. Our guard is lower, and it may not be top of mind. In cars specifically: roughly one-third of child hot car deaths happen outside of the summer months. In fact, they can occur even when the outside temperature is below 70 degrees.
On a clear day, with an air temperature of just 75 degrees, your car will reach nearly 120 degrees after an hour in the sun. Bump that temperature to 85 and you're at nearly 130 degrees.
THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT IN CARS
Light from the sun can get into your car because it’s made of short powerful rays that pass right through the windows. Once that sunlight hits the seats and the dashboard, it turns into heat.
Heat is made of longer and slower waves. These can't get through the glass as easily, trapping heat in your car. That's the greenhouse effect in a nutshell.
MYTH: CRACKING A WINDOW KEEPS YOUR CAR COOLER
Finally, let’s dispel a very common myth. Cracking a window won't help. Let's say it's 92 degrees and you crack your window two inches. Initially, your car will warm slightly slower - but the difference is never greater than about 10 degrees - but after 40 minutes your car will still be warmer than 120 degrees! And the temperature will eventually be the same as if the window had been closed after 50 minutes.
Bottom line: if it’s warm outside, it’s much hotter in your car. So make sure you're bringing your pets, your kids, and your groceries inside. A cracked window is not enough.
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Have a question or story idea you would like the First Alert 5 Weather team to consider? Email: weather@koaa.com
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Pueblo City Council postpones vote on 'sit-lie' ordinance
On Monday night, Pueblo City Council was supposed to vote on a no sit or lie ordinance that would make it illegal to sit or lie down on a sidewalk in some areas of Pueblo, including in the downtown business area. That vote has been pushed to the next city council meeting on April 28.
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