Gadgets Confirm Extreme Heat in Cars
UPDATE: Blog reader Justin points out that cracking or opening the sun/moonroof may have a more concrete effect than windows, since it is at the top of the car, where the most intense heat will reside. His data indicates a drop of 144 F to 125 F when this is done (however this is still 18F over the lethal level according to GGWeather).
ORIGINAL POST: We all hear, periodically, tragic stories of the elderly, children (387 killed since 1998), or pets left in cars during the summer. The temperature can rapidly increase in a car, even in partial sun, even with the windows cracked. On this video from our Photo Gallery, local storm chaser Ron "R-Factor" Shawley explains how he saw 132 degrees in his car with no effort at all, using a Skymate Weather Station (a handheld weather instrument available on the AccuMall).
Ron says that he saw as high as 155 degrees earlier that day, and I can confirm this from my own experiments in the leaving a Davis Weather Wizard III in my car in Raleigh during a summer afternoon in the 1990's. The GGWeather site has a lot of interesting information, including graphs and animations of temperatures within cars. It says that temperatures can reach 140 degrees after an hour, and that cracking windows does little to help. Perhaps Ron or myself can confirm that latter claim - I would be interested to see how little it helps (though I'm not surprised, as I always crack the windows and it never seems to help).
"A sealed car on a bright, summer day is a death trap for pets and people. Shortwave radiation from the sun easily passes through the glass, but longwave heat energy cannot escape. This causes a rapid build-up of heat, resulting in temperatures as high as 150 degrees. Even with the windows slightly open, the interior of a car will heat to deadly levels. NEVER leave a child or pet in a car on a summer day!" - AccuWeather WeatherWhys (R)
Helpful hint: When getting into a hot car and turning on the A/C, turn the Circulation off. It may be 100 degrees outside but the fresh air will be cooler than the 150 inside, so your air conditioner breeze will turn cold quicker.
