A heat wave is gripping Central Indiana this week, prompting heat advisories in Monroe and other area counties.
The National Weather Service says maximum heat index values are expected to reach 103 degrees today—just below the 110-degree threshold needed for an excessive heat warning.
“The bigger impact is going to be the fact that the night times are going to be so warm. Your heat index is not going to drop much below 75 late at night,” said Alexander McGinnis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Indianapolis. He said high humidity will keep the nights warm.
“The inability for people to recover—day after night after day—is what’s going to have a cumulative effect on health, especially in urban areas,” he said.
The heat wave is expected to continue through Friday, possibly stretching into early next week.
Residents are urged to drink plenty of water, wear light-colored, breathable clothing, and stay indoors during the hottest parts of the day.
Relief may arrive by next Tuesday, with highs expected to drop into the mid-80s—just in time for Fourth of July celebrations.
