Springfield, Ill. – Residents across central Illinois should prepare for a prolonged stretch of hot and increasingly humid weather beginning Tuesday, with afternoon heat index values climbing to around 100 degrees each day through the end of the workweek.
According to the National Weather Service in Central Illinois, temperatures and humidity will steadily build after a comfortable start to the week. Overnight lows will fall into the mid-60s Sunday night before highs reach 86 to 89 degrees Monday under mostly sunny skies. By Tuesday, afternoon temperatures will rise into the upper 80s and lower 90s, while increasing humidity pushes the heat index to near 100 degrees through at least Friday.
Communities including Springfield, Peoria, Bloomington-Normal, Decatur, Champaign, Lincoln and Jacksonville can expect several consecutive afternoons of uncomfortable heat, with the highest apparent temperatures occurring between noon and 6 p.m. Outdoor workers, athletes and anyone without access to air conditioning should plan for frequent cooling breaks.
Health officials recommend drinking plenty of water, limiting strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day and checking on older adults, young children and neighbors who may be more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Never leave children or pets inside parked vehicles, where temperatures can rise to dangerous levels in minutes.
No significant rainfall is expected through much of the workweek, allowing the heat to build under mostly clear skies. Additional heat advisories could be issued if temperatures or humidity trend higher over the coming days.
