Current:Home > ContactHow hot does a car get in the sun? Here's why heat can be so deadly in a parked car. -Wealth Momentum Network
How hot does a car get in the sun? Here's why heat can be so deadly in a parked car.
View
Date:2025-04-18 18:57:15
The heat taking over much of the U.S. was nearly deadly for a baby in South Texas, with a viral video showing people having to break through the car's windshield to save him after he was accidentally locked inside with the keys. While the baby was saved and is believed to be OK, the incident is highlighting just how catastrophic extreme heat can be in parked vehicles.
Extreme heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S. Even when temperatures outside seem relatively low compared with what's been experienced in recent weeks, parked vehicles essentially become ovens under the sun's rays.
So, how hot can a car get in the sun? All it takes is an 80-degree Fahrenheit day to bring the normal car temperature to triple digits.
After just 20 minutes on an 80-degree day, the CDC says the inside of a car can hit 109 degrees Fahrenheit. After 40 minutes, it hits 118 degrees, and after an hour, it can hit 123 degrees. That means that on days when cities are experiencing triple digits temperatures —like Phoenix has been for weeks on end— those temperatures become even hotter in a short amount of time.
"Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open," the CDC says. "While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially at risk of getting a heat stroke or dying."
Objects within the car can get even hotter, posing a risk of burns.
According to the National Weather Service, the atmosphere within the car is "warmed little" compared to that of the objects within the car. A dark dashboard or a seat, for example, "can easily reach temperatures in the range of 180 to more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit," the agency says.
"These objects (e.g., dashboard, steering wheel, childseat) heat the adjacent air by conduction and convection and also give off longwave radiation (red) which is very efficient at warming the air trapped inside a vehicle," the agency added.
In Phoenix, which has seen weeks on end with triple-digit temperatures, Dr. Kevin Foster of the Arizona Burn Center told NPR that seat belt buckles can also get so hot that they lead to burns.
"The interior of an automobile, particularly one with dark upholstery, can get to be 160 or 170 degrees," Foster said. "The worst thing to do is to touch something that's metal inside the car that's been exposed to direct sunlight like a seat belt buckle."
When it comes to car safety in the heat, various agencies share one common message: "Do not leave children or pets in a closed vehicle with the windows up."
The National Weather Service also recommends that in persistent heat waves, people should stay hydrated and avoid excessive alcohol, wear loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothing, avoid going out during the hottest times of the days, and eat frequent, small meals rather than heavy meals.
- In:
- Climate Change
- Heat Wave
Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.
veryGood! (99)
Related
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Who is Brian Peck? Ex-Nickelodeon coach convicted of lewd acts with minor back in spotlight
- Most popular dog breed rankings are released. Many fans are not happy.
- Sanctuary saved: South Carolina family's fight for ancestral land comes to an end after settlement: Reports
- The Louvre will be renovated and the 'Mona Lisa' will have her own room
- USWNT get Germany, Australia in group stage at Paris Olympics; US men get host France
- Texas wants to arrest immigrants in the country illegally. Why would that be such a major shift?
- Brother of airport director shot by ATF agents speaks out about shooting
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- The Top 32 Amazon Beauty Deals on Celeb-Loved Picks: Kyle Richards, Chrishell Stause, Sarah Hyland & More
Ranking
- Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst
- Detroit Lions’ defensive back Cameron Sutton sought in Florida domestic violence warrant
- Proposed limit on Georgia film tax credit could become meaningless if studios are protected
- Paris 2024 organizers to provide at least 200,000 condoms to athletes in Olympic Village
- Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
- Hungry to win: Jets fan sent Mike Williams breakfast sandwich to persuade him to sign
- Dodgers' star Shohei Ohtani targeted by bomb threat, prompting police investigation in South Korea
- Amazon's Big Spring Sale Deals on Amazon Devices: Fire Sticks for $29, Fire Tablets for $64 & More
Recommendation
All That You Wanted to Know About She’s All That
A New Hampshire school bus driver and his wife have been charged with producing child pornography
Washington state man accused of eagle killing spree to sell feathers and body parts on black market
Washington Gov. Inslee signs fentanyl bill sending money to disproportionately affected tribes
From family road trips to travel woes: Americans are navigating skyrocketing holiday costs
The Best Bra-Sized Swimsuits That *Actually* Fit Like A Dream
Aaron Taylor-Johnson Reacts to Public Criticism Over His Marriage to Sam Taylor-Johnson
California voters pass proposition requiring counties to spend on programs to tackle homelessness