Dangerous Heat Wave Expected

A dangerous heat wave is expected to impact the Eastern 2/3’s of the Nation beginning this weekend and continuing through much of next week. A ridge will build North across the United States allowing a hot dome of air to entrench much of the country. The heat dome along with excessive amounts of moisture and high dewpoints will create very high heat index values. Dewpoint values (an absolute measure of the amount of moisture in the air) will range from 70 to 80 degrees from Sunday through at least Thursday. As outlined below, dewpoint values above 70 begin to create that “sticky” factor in the air, while dewpoints above 75 degrees cause conditions to become extremely miserable.

• Dewpoint below 60 – Not humid at all
• Dewpoint at 65 – Noticeable stickiness
• Dewpoint at 70 – Very sticky
• Dewpoint above 75- Horrible! You are sweating walking to the car!

Dewpoints and humidity values remain comfortable across most of Indiana and Ohio, but humidity levels and dewpoint levels are increasing to our West.

The map above shows dewpoints across Missouri and even into Illinois at or above 70 degrees. Our forecast models/depictions show that dewpoints will increase across Indiana and Western Ohio on Saturday and even more so on Sunday.

To go along with the high dewpoints, temperatures will also increase each day with a stretch of 90 degree or higher days beginning Sunday and likely continuing through Thursday. As the ridge slides East, the dome of heat will be centered on the Ohio Valley on Wednesday and Thursday and the hottest temperatures will likely occur on those days. Temperatures Monday and Tuesday will climb into the middle 90’s with even higher readings possible Wednesday and Thursday.

With a long duration heat wave expected, the National Weather Service will likely be issuing Excessive Heat Warnings for much of Indiana and Ohio. This is a dangerous situation due to the prolonged nature of the heat wave. I’ll have updates throughout the weekend so stay tuned!

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