SULTRY, SWELTERING, STEAMY...

The heat started to get cranked up Saturday afternoon and that's just the beginning. A strong high pressure system will move in and settle in directly overhead early next week. This high pressure system is abnormally strong:

This will send temperatures 10 to 20 degrees above normal, approaching record highs. The combination of the very high temperatures and high humidity has prompted Excessive Heat Watches and Warnings:

For example, on Sunday temperatures will be running about 10-15 degrees above normal:

But it's not just the heat, it's the humidity. Dew points will be elevated, and enhanced by evapotranspiration, or corn sweat. As the corn is being heat up, it's releasing moisture -- especially at this time of year as the crop reaches maturity. So dew points will be... gross:

This combination of hot and humid will make it FEEL even hotter, hence the heat index. It will be feeling like the triple digits Sunday afternoon:

And these nasty, dangerous heat index values will be around through early next week.

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Stay cool, avoid intense outdoor activity and take breaks in the air conditioning. The heat starts to move out by the end of the week.

Rebecca Kopelman