AREA COUNTIES: SAC-CRAWFORD-CARROLL-AUDUBON-GUTHRIE-DALLAS-CASS-ADAIR-MADISON-TAYLOR-RINGGOLD–

247 AM CDT MON SEP 9 2013

VERY HOT CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST FOR CENTRAL IOWA TODAY WITH NEAR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES OF 95 TO AROUND 100 DEGREES FORECAST. DEW POINT VALUES BY THE AFTERNOON WILL DROP INTO THE 50S TO LOWER 60S…COMBINED WITH TEMPERATURES THIS WILL ALLOW THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES TO DROP TO 25 TO 30 PERCENT.

THESE CONDITIONS WILL ACCELERATE THE ONSET OF DEHYDRATION. IT IS RECOMMENDED FOR PERSONS THAT MUST BE OUTDOORS TO DRINK PLENTY OF WATER…TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS AND WEAR LIGHT COLORED AND LOOSE CLOTHING. OUTSIDE EXERCISE SHOULD TAKE PLACE DURING THE MORNING OR DELAYED UNTIL THE EVENING.

A COLD FRONT WILL DROP SLOWLY THROUGH IOWA TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. THE HEAT WILL LIKELY PERSIST ACROSS SOUTHERN IOWA THROUGH TUESDAY.

IN ADDITION…THERE IS AN ELEVATED FIRE DANGER MONDAY AFTERNOON ESPECIALLY ACROSS AREAS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IOWA WHERE DROUGHT CONDITIONS HAVE RETURNED. THE COMBINATION OF LOW HUMIDITY…A GUSTY 20 TO 25 MPH SOUTHWEST WIND AND DRYING VEGETATION COULD LEAD TO QUICK FIRE GROWTH SHOULD A FIRE BE IGNITED.