400 AM CDT FRI JUN 29 2012

COUNTIES IN SW IA: MADISON, ADAMS, UNION, TAYLOR, RINGGOLD

A HEAT ADVISORY HAS BEEN EXTENDED FROM 5-A.M TODAY THROUGH 8-P.M. FRIDAY

EXTREME HEAT WILL PERSIST ON FRIDAY….HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL IOWA TODAY. THIS WILL MARK THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE DAY OF EXCESSIVE HEAT…WITH LITTLE RELIEF EXPERIENCED DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THIS WILL FURTHER INCREASE THE RISK OF HEALTH HAZARDS DUE TO THE PROLONGED NATURE OF THE HEAT WAVE. AFTERNOON HIGHS IN THE MID 90S ARE EXPECTED TODAY, WITH HEAT INDEX VALUES ONCE AGAIN PEAKING ABOVE 100 DEGREES IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

THE COMBINATION OF PERSISTENT HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL INCREASE THE RISK OF HEAT EXHAUSTION AND OTHER HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES. THIS RISK WILL FURTHER INCREASE WITH PROLONGED OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AND WITH THE ELDERLY AND VERY YOUNG. A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL COMBINE TO CREATE A SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED ROOM…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.