After one of the cooler July’s in years, where low temperatures dipped into the 30s, a brutal heat wave is expected to wash over Iowa this weekend. Meteorologist Rod Donovan at the National Weather Service says summer may be starting to wind down, but the temperatures in the forecast are definitely heating up.  “It looks like the warmest temperatures we’ve seen all year this year,” Donovan says. “We’ll be having temperatures rising into the 90s by Sunday and it could be mid- to upper-90s by mid next week.”

Donovan says record heat is possible and heat advisories are likely to be issued in another few days. “We could have some headlines out next week due to the heat and possibly a heat index rising into the low 100s, near 105, during that time frame,” he says. “As cool as it’s been this summer, it’s definitely going to be a drastic change from what we’ve had.” There’s no immediate relief in the forecast, as highs statewide are expected to be in the 90s for several days, possibly into next weekend. (Radio Iowa)

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN THE KJAN LISTENING AREA: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-GREENE-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-ADAMS-UNION-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD…

151 PM CDT FRI AUG 23 2013

…A PROLONGED PERIOD OF UNSEASONABLY HOT CONDITIONS FORECAST TO BEGIN SUNDAY AND EXTEND THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK…A WARM FRONT WILL LIFT THROUGH IOWA ON SATURDAY AND WILL BRING MUCH WARMER CONDITIONS TO THE STATE BY SUNDAY. HIGH TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY WILL BE IN THE LOW TO MID 90S.

EVEN WARMER TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST FOR MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 90S. THIS WILL INCLUDE THE POTENTIAL FOR A FEW LOCATIONS TO REACH 100 ALONG WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. DEW POINT VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. THE DEW POINTS COMBINED WITH THE TEMPERATURE WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 100 TO 105 DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS.

A WEAK COLD FRONT MAY MOVE INTO NORTHEAST IOWA LATE WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY AND MAY PROVIDE LIMITED RELIEF HOWEVER THE HEAT IS EXPECTED TO BUILD BACK INTO THE STATE BY FRIDAY. THIS WILL BE THE MOST PROLONGED PERIOD OF HEAT SINCE LAST SUMMER. IN ADDITION TO THE HEAT…THE POTENTIAL FOR APPRECIABLE PRECIPITATION THROUGH THIS PERIOD IS VERY LOW.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS PRECAUTIONS THAT CAN BE TAKEN DURING PROLONGED HEAT EVENTS. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK…EXERCISE OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. WHEN POSSIBLE…RESCHEDULE STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES TO THE EARLY MORNING OR EVENING HOURS. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. WEAR LIGHT WEIGHT AND LOOSE FITTING CLOTHING WHEN POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK…SCHEDULE FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS.