Dangerous heat wave forecast starts Sunday after morning storms pass
Dangerous heat dominates Sunday's heat wave forecast across the Midwest and South as morning showers and storms track east and afternoon sunshine pushes heat indices past 100 degrees. Forecasters in Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, and Louisiana have activated alerts ahead of several days of mid-90s heat and stifling humidity. The stretch of dangerous weather is expected to last well beyond a single afternoon.
Regional meteorologists warn this is not a one-day spike. Hot, muggy weather is expected to persist into the workweek and, in some areas, through the Fourth of July holiday.
Key Takeaways
- KCRG declared a First Alert Day for eastern Iowa on June 28 as storms with damaging-wind and hail risks moved through before clearing.
- An Extreme Heat Warning takes effect Sunday afternoon in parts of eastern Iowa and runs through Tuesday evening, with triple-digit heat index values possible.
- WPSD Local 6 activated a Weather Authority Alert with peak heat index readings of 105 to 110 degrees or higher expected for multiple days.
- WDSU reports Louisiana heat indices climbing past 105 degrees as a heat ridge expands from Texas, with rain chances at or below 10% early in the week.
- Officials advise hydration, limiting outdoor activity during peak heat, and checking on vulnerable neighbors as overnight lows stay in the 70s.
Why are forecasters issuing First Alert and Weather Authority alerts?
Television weather teams use these branded alert days when conditions threaten public safety beyond a routine summer afternoon. KCRG's First Alert Day on Sunday combines two hazards: isolated severe storms in the morning and dangerous heat that follows once clouds break.
WPSD Local 6 issued its Weather Authority Alert ahead of what meteorologists there call the first prolonged heat wave of the summer. The station anticipates several days of heat advisories or possibly an excessive heat warning for most or all of its viewing area, likely starting Sunday.
What is the heat wave forecast for Iowa on Sunday?
According to KCRG-TV9, showers and storms entered northwestern Iowa on Sunday morning and tracked into eastern Iowa by late morning. The storms carried isolated damaging winds and a quarter-sized hail threat across northern and central counties.
By early afternoon, rain and cloud cover moved out, allowing temperatures to spike across southern Iowa. Highs were forecast in the upper 80s and low 90s, with triple-digit feels-like temperatures possible south of Interstate 80. Winds behind the storms were expected to reach 20 to 30 mph.
An Extreme Heat Warning goes into effect Sunday afternoon and continues through Tuesday evening. Monday and Tuesday should bring highs in the low to mid 90s with heat index values reaching triple digits across all of eastern Iowa.
How hot will it feel in Kentucky, Missouri and Louisiana?
In the WPSD Local 6 region spanning parts of southern Illinois, southwest Indiana, western Kentucky, and southeast Missouri, a Heat Advisory was in effect Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. CDT. An Extreme Heat Watch runs from Monday morning through Thursday evening.
Air temperatures in the mid 90s paired with high humidity are expected to keep peak afternoon heat index readings at 105 to 110 degrees or higher for several consecutive days. Overnight lows in the upper 70s will offer limited relief.
Farther south, WDSU in New Orleans reports a heat ridge building from Texas across much of the Southeast. Afternoon highs in the mid 90s and intense humidity are pushing heat indices past 105 degrees in Louisiana. The National Weather Service New Orleans office has issued heat advisories for much of southeast Louisiana, with extensions likely through early next week.
What should people do during this dangerous heat?
Forecasters across all three sources repeat the same guidance: drink plenty of water, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest hours, and seek air-conditioned spaces when possible. KCRG notes that overnight temperatures may only fall to the mid 70s in Iowa, so bodies get little recovery time between hot days.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke remain serious risks during prolonged events like this. For more breaking coverage, follow our Celebrity Breaking News section.