Today:  A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.  Mostly sunny, with a high near 91. East wind 7 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon.

Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 62. North northeast wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Saturday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph.

Sunday:  Sunny, with a high near 81. East wind 3 to 6 mph.

Monday:  Sunny, with a high near 83. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

After four straight days of sweltering heat statewide, forecasters say a cool front is approaching and, hallelujah, highs may only be in the 70s by next week. Meteorologist Alexis Jimenez (hah-MEN-ez), at the National Weather Service, says we should start seeing a change for the cooler within a matter of several hours.

She says the long-range forecast indicates the extreme heat isn’t returning anytime soon, and high temperatures will be much closer to normal.

Several more records were broken on Wednesday.

The Excessive Heat Warning is scheduled to expire at 7 o’clock this evening. It was issued on Monday morning.

Whether it’s having a discussion about politics with an in-law, or just walking outside to get the mail, it can be a true challenge lately to keep our cool. With a third consecutive day of a statewide excessive heat warning, some Iowans who don’t have air conditioning are turning to community cooling shelters. National Weather Service meteorologist Richard Mamrosh (MAM-rosh) says if you don’t want to leave your house, there are literal steps you can take to chill out.

The experts suggest you skip outdoor activities unless you absolutely need to be outside, or do those chores early in the morning or in the evening when it’s cooler.  Mamrosh says it’s also wise to keep an eye on loved ones in the heat.

High temperatures this afternoon are forecast to be several degrees hotter than Tuesday or Monday, topping off in the upper 90s and low hundreds, with heat indices well into triple digits.

Thursday:  Sunny, with a high near 96. Heat index values as high as 105. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable in the afternoon.

Thursday Night:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph.

Friday:  A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. North northeast wind around 10 mph.

Sunday:  Sunny, with a high near 83. East wind around 10 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.

Wednesday’s high was 96 and this morning’s low 77.  This day last year the high was 87 and the low 63.  The record high is 105 set in 1936 and the record low 37 set in 1908.  Sunrise today is 6:37 am and sunset at 8:06 pm.

The National Weather Service has extended the Excessive Heat Warning.  It is now in effect until Thursday, August 24 at 7:00 pm.

Dangerously hot conditions with heat index values peaking around 105 to 110 degrees are expected each day in all of Iowa.

Extreme heat and humidity will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities.  The long duration of the heat can be particularly hard on the very young, the elderly and those with medical conditions.

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9-1-1.

Wednesday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Heat index values as high as 112. Southwest wind 8 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Wednesday Night:  Partly cloudy, with a low around 75. South southwest wind 9 to 13 mph.

Thursday:  Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 106. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph becoming north in the afternoon.

Friday:  A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 8 to 10 mph becoming north in the afternoon.

Saturday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. North northeast wind 10 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Sunday:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. North wind around 9 mph.

Tuesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Heat index values as high as 116. South southwest wind 10 to 13 mph.

Tuesday Night:  Mostly clear, with a low around 76. South wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Wednesday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. Heat index values as high as 109. Southwest wind 9 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Thursday:  Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Southwest wind around 9 mph becoming north in the afternoon.

Friday:  A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. North northeast wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

Monday’s high was 94 and this morning’s low 68.  This day last year the high was 83 and the low 56.  The record high is 100 set in 1914 and the record low of 41 was set in 1904.  Sunrise this morning at 6:36 am and sunset this evening is at 8:09 pm.

This could be the hottest week Iowans have endured in years, as near-record to record heat is likely. Forecasters say highs through Thursday will range from 95 to 105 degrees, with heat indices as high as 115. If the forecast holds, National Weather Service meteorologist Andrew Ansorge (an-SORE-ghee) says it will be the first time in a decade that August has had four or more consecutive days this hot in Des Moines.

Triple-digit temperatures are common in August, but he says highs are typically in the 80s by this late in the month. Southern California was just hit with its first tropical storm in more than 80 years, though it was a hurricane in the Pacific Ocean for a while. Ansorge says that’s one of the reasons temperatures will be near or above 100 degrees in Iowa most of this week, as the low pressure system is pushing record high heat from the Southwest to the Midwest.

All of Iowa is under an excessive heat warning through at least Wednesday night, and relief may not come until Friday. The National Weather Service says this may be Iowa’s hottest string of consecutive days since 2013. The service predicts above-normal temperatures until September.

An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for all of the KJAN listening area until 9:00 pm Wednesday.

Today: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 97. Heat index values as high as 112. East southeast wind 6 to 10 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Tonight: Clear, with a low around 75. South wind around 10 mph.

Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. Heat index values as high as 112. South southwest wind 9 to 13 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 102. Southwest wind 9 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

Thursday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 98. West southwest wind around 10 mph becoming north northeast in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 16 mph.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 85. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

Sunday’s high was 92, this morning’s low is 68.  This day last year the high was 83 and the low 56.  The record high is 100 degrees set in 1936 and the record low is 40 set in 1956.  Sunrise today is at 6:34 am.  Sunset tonight is 8:11 pm.  Tuesday’s sunrise is at 6:36 am.

Excessive Heat Warning
URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Des Moines IA
939 AM CDT Sun Aug 20 2023

Audubon-Guthrie-Dallas-Polk-Jasper-Poweshiek-Cass-Adair-Madison-
Warren-Marion-Mahaska-Adams-Union-Clarke-Lucas-Monroe-Wapello-
Taylor-Ringgold-Decatur-Wayne-Appanoose-Davis-
Including the cities of Audubon, Exira, Guthrie Center, Panora,
Bayard, Casey, Perry, Waukee, Adel, Des Moines, Newton, Grinnell,
Atlantic, Greenfield, Stuart, Adair, Fontanelle, Winterset,
Earlham, Indianola, Norwalk, Carlisle, Pella, Knoxville,
Oskaloosa, Corning, Creston, Osceola, Chariton, Albia, Ottumwa,
Bedford, Lenox, New Market, Mount Ayr, Lamoni, Leon, Corydon,
Seymour, Allerton, Humeston, Centerville, and Bloomfield
939 AM CDT Sun Aug 20 2023

…EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 PM CDT
WEDNESDAY…

* WHAT…An extended period of dangerously hot conditions with
heat index values up to 114.

* WHERE…Much of the southern half of Iowa.

* WHEN…Until 9 PM CDT Wednesday.

* IMPACTS…Extreme heat and humidity will significantly
increase the potential for heat related illnesses,
particularly for those working or participating in outdoor
activities.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The long duration of the heat can be
particularly hard on the very young, the elderly and those
with medical conditions.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out
of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young
children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles
under any circumstances.

Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when
possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent
rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone
overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.
Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.