Mercury Rising! It's Another Steamy One In Maryland

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Some potentially powerful thunderstorms are rolling through the region. Not only could we see more storms, it 's another steamy summer day.

Derek Valcourt has more on how people are coping with the heat.

Standing around in this kind of heat is tough on the lungs of asthmatic people like Denise Hill. And then there's the sweat.

"Oh my god, yes! I can't keep the tissue dry," said Hill.

Athletes like Keon Richburg enjoy this kind of heat though.

"It's good for you. It helps more. It helps you sweat," Richburg said.

They know to keep plenty of water on hand to stay hydrated.

"Sometimes you go in the shade, take a little break, come back," said Frank Fuller.

"It doesn't have to be 100 degrees though for a patient to start to have symptoms of heat stroke," said Dr. Emmanuel Oke, Sinai Hospital.

Dr. Oke says this is the time of year when heat-related hospital visits soar from simple muscle cramps to deadly heat strokes. The very old and very young are most at risk.

Oke cautions all adults should be careful.

"A lot of times people in their mid-20s or 30s also feel they are invincible, but they are actually susceptible to heat strokes because they are the ones who exert themselves even more under extreme weather conditions," Oke said.

The heat is not just tough on bodies, it's forcing the MTA to reduce speeds on the Brunswick and Camden MARC train lines by about 20 miles per hour. The concern is for the welded rails. They help give the trains a smooth ride, but that welding is also susceptible to extreme weather.

"In the cold weather, it can contract and in severe heat, it can expand. And so, sometimes, that expanding may allow for little undulations in the rail and we just want to make sure that those don't cause us any problems," said Paul Shepard, MTA spokesperson.

With clouds rolling in, many are welcoming a break from the heat.

"It's OK today. It's better today than yesterday," said Janice Henderson.

Health officials say so far in Maryland two people have died from heat-related illnesses.

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