FORECASTER: GET READY FOR WORST HEAT WAVE IN OVER 10 YEARS
Friday, July 15th, 2011 -- 1:58 PM
Hot weather is nothing new for us, especially in mid-July, but we're about to experience a [url=http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=WIZ029&warncounty=WIC019&firewxzone=WIZ029&local_place1=Neillsville+WI&product1=Excessive+Heat+Watch]notable blast of heat and humidity[/url].The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued an Excessive Heat Watch for our area beginning Sunday.
"We're looking at a pretty broad upper-level ridge that will set up across the central United States that will allow warm and muggy air to set up over us well into next week," warns Zack Taylor, a forecaster with the NWS. "We're looking at afternoon temperatures in the low to mid 90s and dew points in the upper 70s."
"That will lead to heat index readings of between 100- and 115-degrees," he says.
The forecast models differ a bit. The best case scenario is the heat wave will break by Thursday or Friday, but Taylor says it could last for over a week.
"The big story is how long this is going to last. This length of a heat wave hasn't been seen in at least 10 years," he says. "It's very unique to the area and something people need to take very seriously."
On top of the typical advice, Taylor encourages people to start planning now to stay in contact with friends and loved ones who may be at risk during the next week.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.