By Dot "Doppler" Hollis, Williamson County Bureau
MARION, Ill. — This afternoon brings unrelenting heat to Williamson County. Temperatures climb to 97 degrees under mostly sunny skies. But it'll feel hotter: the National Weather Service forecasts heat index values as high as 105. South southwest winds around 12 miles per hour offer little relief. Tonight stays warm—lows around 77, with light winds from the south southwest.
Tuesday follows the same script. Sunny skies, a high near 97, heat index climbing to 106. Still not dangerous by summer-in-southern-Illinois standards, but the kind of heat that demands respect: drink water, check on neighbors, give outdoor work the timing it needs.
Wednesday breaks the pattern. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms moves in after 1 p.m., according to the National Weather Service. Otherwise mostly sunny. High near 96. Wednesday night brings a slight storm chance before 7 p.m., then partly cloudy skies.
Nothing severe threatens the county in the coming days. Watch for the heat. Watch the sky Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday for those scattered storms.
Watch the sky, keep the radio on.
- Forecast data from the National Weather Service.
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