Northwest Iowa — After the relatively mild temperatures of the past several days, the mercury is starting to rise to more seasonal norms.
Matthew Dux is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, and he tells us the heat is on the way.
(As above) “We’re heading towards more typical summer like weather as we finish out this week and move into the upcoming weekend, (and) portions of early next week. Temperatures actually jumping up near ninety degrees across portions of northwest Iowa, but those temperatures will stay in the upper eighties to ninety degrees this weekend. The warmest temperatures do begin to arrive by Monday and Tuesday, and we’re seeing potential for highs in the nineties across much of northwest Iowa.”
Dux says as the temperatures rise, so will the humidity.
(As above) “That’s what’s concerning about the early portions of next week. With the temperatures in the nineties, we’re going to be seeing our dew-points and our moisture increase across the region. So, those heat index values…..what those temperatures will actually feel like….may be pushing closer to one hundred degrees.”
He says there are precautions you should take when being outside in that kind of heat and humidity.
(As above) “One of the main things, as long as we know the temperatures are warming up, we want to start to schedule ahead, plan ahead. Limit your outdoor exposure as much as you can, and if you have to work outside or spend longer periods outside, try to schedule in some breaks. Don’t sit outside for multiple hours at a time, go outside, enjoy some of the warmer temperatures, but then come in and take a ten, fifteen or twenty minute break every so often. The other thing we want to encourage people to do is drink plenty of fluids. Water is especially important as the temperatures rise and the humidity rises.”
In addition, experts recommend that you wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, along with a hat to shade your face when you’re outside in the heat. And don’t forget the sunscreen to help you avoid a sunburn.
