Summer-like weather felt for the next couple of days

A Heat Advisory has been issued for Whiteside county and points west and southwest starting this afternoon and lasting through Wednesday.  Skies have cleared and temperatures have risen 20° since this morning now that the warm front is moving through.  Heat Index values will likely reach the middle 90s as the actual temperature reaches the low 90s.

This dome of heat is going to continue through the middle of the week as the ridge of high pressure builds across the middle of the U.S.  Temperatures Tuesday will soar into the middle 90s with the heat index possibly reaching close to 100°.  It's possible that we might see the heat advisory extended later this afternoon or evening for Tuesday; the one thing that is keeping the NWS from issuing it now is the fact that lower dew points in the upper levels of the atmosphere may be able to mix down to the surface.  Either way it's going to be very hot and humid the next couple of days so please make sure you use extra caution if you need to be outdoors.  Wear light colored clothing, drink plenty of water, apply sunblock and try to stay in the air conditioning as much as possible.

This 'mini' heat wave will come to an end late on Wednesday as a cold front moves in.  However, with all the heat and humidity that will have built up from the past couple of days stronger thunderstorms could be possible during the evening.  That's something else we'll continue to monitor over the next couple of days.