BY TIM BONFIELD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Soccer moms don't wilt in 90-degree heat.
About 10,000 soccer supporters and players from as far away as South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota braved a smog alert and heat emergency to attend the U.S. Youth Soccer Midwest Regional Championship in Anderson Township.
"It's about this hot at home," said Georgie Hilker, a Minneapolis-St. Paul resident who drove 11 hours to bask in the outdoor soccer sauna at Clear Creek Park.
"We brought coolers full of ice water and towels to drape over the girls. And tons and tons of water. That's about all you can do," Mrs. Hilker said.
Cincinnati is in part of a heat wave baking much of the eastern United States.
It isn't record heat. The peak was 90 degrees about 5 p.m. Saturday, slightly below the predicted high of 92. Still, the heat index -- a measure combining temperature and humidity -- made it feel like 102.
Expect more of the same today.
The National Weather Service predicts temperatures in the low 90s again, with a chance of thunderstorms. Health officials repeated warnings that the hot weather poses health risks for the elderly and people with lung and heart disease.
But to many people, this is simply summer hitting a bit earlier than usual. It didn't slow down other weekend events, such as the 1998 USA Cycling Elite National Championship downtown or the Panegyri Greek Festival in Finneytown.
