Today: Mostly sunny & windy. High near 93. South wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy & windy. Low around 73. S @ 15-30.
Monday: Partly sunny. High near 94. S @ 10-20.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Low around 73. S @ 10-25mph.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny  & breezy. High near 95. S @ 15-30.
Tue. Night: A 40% chance of showers & thunderstorms. Low around 72.
Wednesday: A 40% chance of showers & thunderstorm in the morning, and a slight chance during the afternoon. High near 90.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 91.

Saturday’s High in Atlantic was 92. Our Low this morning, 70. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 93 and the Low was 71. The All-time Record High for Atlantic on this date was 99 in 1892, while the Record Low was 36 in 1903.

Today: Partly cloudy hot & humid. High 97. SW @ 15-20.

Tonight: Partly cloudy & muggy. Low 75. SW @ 10-15.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy, hot & humid. High 99. SW @ 15-20.

Tom. Night: P/Cldy. Low 76.

Monday: P/Cldy. High 94.

Tuesday: P/Sunny. High 94.

Friday’s High in Atlantic was 89. Our Low this morning was 66. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 94 and the low was 73. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 104 in 1933. The Record Low was 40 in 1966.

A late spring heat wave is bringing summer-like hot weather to the Hawkeye State. National Weather Service meteorologist Cory Martin says most of Iowa will see highs in the 90s the next five straight days. “We’re going to see temperatures that are more typical of the latter half of summer,” Martin says. “We’re going to see highs approaching triple-digits in some part so the state and when you combine that with the humidity we’re expecting, we’ll have heat index values probably exceeding 100 across much of the area, especially Saturday and Sunday afternoons.”

So far, no watches, warnings or advisories have been issued in Iowa as part of the steamy forecast. “For a heat advisory to be issued, we’d be expecting heat indices of 105 degrees or greater and that’s not likely at this point,” Martin says. “However, with the long duration of the heat expected, it still could be dangerous for those that will be exposed to it for prolonged periods of time.”

Reminders are being issued for people with pets or livestock to make sure the animals have plenty of water and shade. These highs, Martin says, are very unseasonable.  “Normal temperatures for this time of year would be into the low 80s,” Martin says. “What we’re going to be seeing is close to record values. Most places, our record high temperatures for this time of year would be in the upper 90s to near 100-degrees, so we’re right in that territory.”

Highs in Des Moines the next three days are estimated at 99, 99 and 98 degrees. The Polk County Health Department is warning people to take it easy if they’ll be outside, wear light-colored and light-weight clothing, take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water. According to the calendar, summer doesn’t even officially arrive until June 21st.

“It is early but it’s definitely not unprecedented,” Martin says. “Our record highs are right around 100 degrees for this time of year so we’ve seen it before. Again, it is hot for this time of year. We usually don’t start talking about triple-digit heat for this area until we get into July and August.”

Forecasters say highs aren’t expected to be back around normal again until possibly Wednesday.

(Radio Iowa)

(Updated 6-a.m.)
A hot and slightly humid airmass will be in place this weekend into early next week accompanied by gusty south to southwest winds. Temperatures will peak in the middle 90s to near 100 degrees from Saturday into Monday, which will be near record to record values. In addition, dewpoints in the low to middle 60s combined with
these temperatures will create heat indices, or what it feels like, ranging from 95 to near 105 degrees.

If your plans over the next several days take you outdoors, make sure to drink plenty of water, stay in the shade if possible, and take breaks to rest. Also, watch out for pets and children in locked vehicles.

Today: Mostly sunny. High 88. SW @ 10-20.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 68. SW @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: Mo. Sunny, warm & humid. High 95. SW @ 15-20.

Sunday: P/Cldy, warm & humid. Highs around 95.

Monday: P/Cldy. High 93.

Thursday’s High in Atlantic was 87. Our Low this morning was 59. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 93 and the low was 72. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 101 in 1985. The Record Low was 38 in 1915.

Heat can be a tremendous threat in Iowa and it’s one of the country’s top weather-related killers. Last year, 94 people died from the extreme heat, more than twice the 45 deaths the previous year. Today (Thursday) is Heat Awareness Day. Meteorologist Kelsey Angle, at the National Weather Service, says it’s vital to stay aware of the forecast and take precautions for a heat wave just as you would for an approaching blizzard.

Angle says, “One of the reasons why we’re holding a Heat Awareness Day is so people can plan and prepare as we start to go through the heart of the summer season and the impacts associated with heat as well as humidity.”

Iowans need to take care of themselves if they plan to be outside for any period of time during a heat wave, especially if they’re exerting themselves. “Pay attention to what their body is telling them because often when the heat index gets above 105, people can get in some serious health danger if they don’t take appropriate precautions,” Angle says. “Take a break, maintain hydration, drink lots and lots of water.”

Every summer, children and animals die or are hospitalized from being left unattended in a hot car. “You can have temperatures in the 80s and if you’ve got kids or pets inside a vehicle without air conditioning, temperatures can rapidly rise to well over 120 degrees just in a matter of a few minutes,” Angle says. “It’s important that you don’t leave children or pets inside a vehicle.”

On warmer days, temps inside the vehicle can quickly reach 160 degrees. Children are more susceptible to heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion, heat stroke and even death because their bodies generate more heat due to their size. Their ability to sweat to cool themselves down isn’t as fully developed as adults. Animals, too, can quickly suffer brain damage or die from heatstroke or suffocation from being left in a hot vehicle. During extreme heat, check in on your neighbors, make sure your pets and livestock have adequate shade and water, and keep up with the changing forecast.

“Any time the heat index is expected to get above 105 degrees, we’ll issue advisories for that,” Angle says. “If we expect heat index values to be significantly higher, we’ll issue an Excessive Heat Warning.”

For more information, visit www.weather.gov/dmx.

(Radio Iowa)

Today: Partly cloudy. High 84. S @ 10-15.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 60. S @ 5-10.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High 87. S @ 10-15.

Saturday/Sunday: P/Cldy, hot & humid. Highs around 95.

Wednesday’s High in Atlantic was 84. Our Low this morning was 55. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 86 and the low was 56. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 102 in 1985. The Record Low was 38 in 1930.

Today: Mostly Sunny. High 83. SE @ 5-10.

Tonight: Clear to partly cloudy. Low 58. SE @ 5.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy w/isolated showers possible. High 81. SE @ 10-15.

Friday: P/Cldy w/isolated showers. High around 86.

Saturday: P/Cldy, warm & humid. High 92.

Tuesday’s High in Atlantic was 84. Our Low this morning was 53. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 79 and the low was 53. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 98 in 1934 & 2011. The Record Low was 36 in 1894.

Today: Mostly Sunny. High 83. NE @ 10.

Tonight: Clear to partly cloudy. Low 52.

Tomorrow: P/Cldy. High near 81. SE @ 5-10.

Thursday: P/Cldy w/isolated showers. High around 81.

Friday: P/Cldy w/iso. showers. High 86.

Monday’s High in Atlantic was 91. Our Low this morning (as of 5-a.m.), was 58. Last year on this date, the High in Atlantic was 83 and the low was 50. The Record High in Atlantic on this date was 103 in 1933. The Record Low was 32 in 1894.

Last week was the driest week for the state of Iowa since mid-February and farmers took advantage of it to complete spring planting. Ninety-percent of the state’s corn crop has emerged, just one day behind the five-year average, according to the USDA’s Crop Report issued Monday. It shows 77-percent of the corn crop is in good to excellent condition. Soybean planting is 91-percent done.

State Climatologist Harry Hillaker says over half of the state recorded no rain at all last week. Temperatures dipped as low as 39 degrees Wednesday morning at Chariton and Grinnell. Then, a heat wave arrived for the weekend. “Sioux City got up to 95 degrees on Friday afternoon, which was just two degrees shy of a daily record high for that location,” Hillaker said. Creston reported the most rain for the week with 1.28 inches.

(Radio Iowa)