A Heat Advisory has been issued for Whiteside county until 8pm this evening. Heat index values will likely approach 103° this afternoon. Exercise caution if you must be outdoors.
The heat and humidity will maximize heat index values into the lower 100s by this afternoon under mostly sunny skies. Today will likely be the peak of these values through the rest of our 90 degree stretch of temperatures this week. If you’ll be working outdoors, make sure and stay hydrated and take frequent breaks in the shade.
A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible at times however most of the area will remain dry.
A cluster of thunderstorms attempted to traverse the area last night however a substantial cap (wedge of warm air aloft) killed off whatever small rain chance we had. It appears though our luck will be increasing in terms of getting some much needed rainfall here by Wednesday afternoon as a cold front approaches the area from the west.
Scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop by the afternoon hours posing a risk of damaging winds and hail. The Storm Prediction Center has the entire area under a slight risk for severe storms on Wednesday afternoon and evening.
The highest threat with these storms will be damaging winds followed by a lower threat for large hail. Some areas could pick up some much needed rainfall as well with a moisture rich air mass in place as the storms move through.
We’ll be monitoring the severe threat on Wednesday as the details become more clear. Until then, stay cool!
