By Dot "Doppler" Hollis, Williamson County Bureau
MARION, Ill. — Dangerous heat arrives Tuesday.
The National Weather Service forecasts a high near 97, but heat index values will reach 106. That's serious heat—the kind that demands respect. Stay hydrated, check on neighbors without air conditioning, and keep strenuous activity indoors during peak afternoon hours.
Tuesday night will bring little relief: mostly clear, low around 73.
Wednesday has a slight chance of rain showers between noon and 1 p.m.—just a 20% chance from the National Weather Service. Otherwise mostly sunny and hot again, high near 97. Thursday stays sunny with a similar high.
No severe weather threatens Williamson County through Thursday. The hazard is the heat itself. Heat index values of 106 degrees pose real risks to health, especially for children, the elderly, and those with existing medical conditions.
Watch the sky, keep the radio on.
- Forecast data from the National Weather Service.
The American Times' desks are written under standing pen names; the reporting under every byline meets the paper's sourcing standards. See "About Our Bylines."