Weather Awareness was the subject matter for the August version of the Community Health Series, co-sponsored by Oxford Health Systems and Alabama C.A.R.E.S., at the Oxford Civic Center on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.

WTVM 13’s chief meteorologist Jason Simpson took the event podium to discuss the best ways to be aware of the weather, the oppressive heat wave which has been felt recently, and some fun facts about he and his fellow television forecasters.

“You may have noticed it has been hot lately,” Simpson said. “The Anniston Regional Airport hit 97 degrees on Monday. You might think it was hotter than that because the heat index was 108 degrees when that happened. That is because the heat, the humidity, and the sunshine came all together to create that effect.”

Simpson explained the heat index is “actually developed from science that tells us how your body responds to the air that is outside and how difficult it is for you to maintain the normal equilibrium to be healthy.”

“There is a lot more stress on your body and it is a real physical issue,” he said. “The biggest thing about heat is knowing your own body. If you start feeling dizzy or seeing stars, sit down and tell somebody. You have to pay attention and listen to the warning signs.”

Oxford Health System’s Carla Jones quickly interjected the heat was something to be very serious about.

“We have answered a lot of heat calls in the past few days. There was one gentleman whose temperature had risen to 105 degrees. Once you get to that level, we talk about stroke then about brain damage,” Jones said. “So if it’s too hot, just wait until later in the afternoon or in the morning when it’s cooler. Not at lunch time.”

“Typically, we see our last 90 degree day of the year around September 20,” Simpson said. “So, we still have a month to go of upper 80s and low 90s with maybe a few spikes into the mid-90s.”

He said having a NOAA weather radio is one of the best and most reliable forms of receiving communication of severe weather.

Simpson also told his audience there is only “friendly competition” between he and the other Birmingham television meteorologists.

“All of us who do this in Birmingham have known each other for nearly 30 years and it’s like watching buddies in a pickup basketball game,” he said. “We are all friends. We all live near each other. While we have friendly competition, our main mission is taking care of the people we are charged with taking care of. That’s what we do. That’s what we want to do. That’s what we strive to do.”