Bismarck, North Dakota – A sweltering stretch of heat will grip central and southeastern North Dakota Saturday, with temperatures and humidity combining for heat index values reaching 101°F by midday.
According to the National Weather Service in Bismarck, a Heat Advisory is in effect from noon to 8 p.m. CDT Saturday for counties including Burleigh, Morton, Stutsman, and Wells—covering cities like Bismarck, Jamestown, and Carrington. The advisory warns of heightened risk for heat-related illnesses due to high humidity and afternoon temperatures in the low to mid-90s.
Residents in the James River Valley and surrounding counties should avoid strenuous outdoor activity during peak heat hours. Emergency officials urge people to stay hydrated, remain indoors in air-conditioned spaces, and check on elderly neighbors or those without cooling.
Rural communities such as Napoleon, Fort Yates, and Wishek may also feel the heat spike, with livestock and farm workers particularly vulnerable. City cooling centers will be available in Bismarck and Jamestown.
Saturday’s heat is part of a broader ridge pushing across the Northern Plains and could mark one of the hottest single-day events of the summer for this region.
More advisories may follow if high heat lingers into early next week.
