Excessive heat warning extended through Sunday in St. Louis area

The weekend looks to be more comfortable with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s. High: Low to mid 90s.

Heat index values are expected to top out between 95 and 100 Saturday and Sunday. High temperatures and humidity will bake much of the central United States this week, sending heat indexes soaring as high as 115 degrees in some places for the first time this year. At this point it’s worth keeping tabs on the forecast if you have outdoor plans Friday afternoon/evening.

Monday: Hot, humid. Chance afternoon showers and thunderstorms. When it doesn’t cool off substantially at night, the risk of heat-related illness increases for those without air conditioning (for instance, the poor and the homeless).

An Excessive Heat Warning means that a prolonged period of dangerously hot temperatures will occur. the combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a unsafe situation in which heat illnesses are likely. It said senior citizens, small children and pets are especially susceptible.

The weather service has declared an excessive heat warning starting today and continuing into Friday evening, and agency’s are providing ways to beat the heat as temperatures fall merely into the 70s overnight.

Forecast high temperatures for Washington from different sources Tuesday to Friday next week.

The longer the heat wave persists, the more unsafe it potentially becomes.