Heat Advisory in effect from Noon until 8 pm Tuesday

A dangerous heat wave will roast millions of Americans across the Plains and the Midwest this week. Parts of the central and southern Plains, the mid-Mississippi Valley, and the mid-South will see highs in the upper 90s to low triple-digits. A Heat Advisory in effect from noon today until 8 p.m. Peak afternoon heat index readings from 106 to 111.

Heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year. Heat can be very taxing on the body; check out the heat related illnesses that can occur with even a short period of exposure. Everyone can be vulnerable to heat, but some more so than others. According to The Impacts Of Climate Change On Human Health In The United States: A Scientific Assessment the following groups are particularly vulnerable to heat; check in with friends and relatives who fall in one of these populations, especially if they don’t have air conditioning.

• Young children and infants are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illness and death, as their bodies are less able to adapt to heat than are adults. 
• Older adults, particularly those with pre existing diseases, take certain medications, are living alone or with limited mobility who are exposed to extreme heat can experience multiple adverse effects.
• People with chronic medical conditions are more likely to have a serious health problem during a heat wave than healthy people.
• Pregnant women are also at higher risk. Extreme heat events have been associated with adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm birth, and infant mortality, as well as congenital cataracts.

It is NEVER safe to leave a child, disabled person or pet locked in a car, even in the winter. If you have a toddler in your household, lock your cars, even in your own driveway.  Kids play in cars or wander outside and get into a car and can die in 10 minutes! A reported 25 children died in hot cars in 2020. To see the latest information for 2021, go to this link. Deaths routinely are reported as early as April and tragedies continue into December in southern states.

A Flood Watch is in effect from 2 p.m. today through late tonight.

* WHAT…Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible.

* WHERE…Portions of Illinois and northwest Indiana, including the following areas, in Illinois, Boone, Central Cook, DuPage, Eastern Will, Kane, Lake IL, McHenry, Northern Cook, Northern Will, Southern Cook, Southern Will and Winnebago. In northwest Indiana, Lake IN and Porter.

* WHEN…From 2 PM CDT this afternoon through late tonight.

* IMPACTS…Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…
– Thunderstorms are likely to develop this afternoon into this evening. The more intense storms could produce extremely heavy rainfall, which could result in isolated rainfall totals in excess of 3 inches in less than 2 hours.
– http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

National Weather Service