Heat advisory issued for parts of Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana — According to the National Weather Service at Indianapolis, heat index values on Monday afternoon and evening could hit 108 degrees in parts of central, south-central, southwest, and west-central Indiana.

The heat index is a measure of how hot it really feels when relative humidity is factored in with the actual air temperature.

On Monday, the heat advisory for counties south and west of Indianapolis will take place noon-9 p.m. Indianapolis was not part of the heat advisory. Cities in the advisory area included Lafayette, West Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Rockville, Greencastle, Terre Haute, Brazil, Spencer, Martinsville, Mooresville, Linton, Bloomfield, Jasonville, Worthington, Bloomington, Nashville, Vincennes, Washington, Loogootee, Shoals, Bedford, Mitchell. and Seymour.

According to Storm Track 8 meteorologist Tara Hastings, Monday will be the first day Indianapolis hits 90 degrees in 2022 and bring some of the hottest air Indianapolis has seen since 2012. That’s when the temperature hit 105 degrees on July 6 and 7. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to happen, the weather service says. They advise people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances, the weather service adds. People who work or spend time outside should take extra precautions, such as rescheduling strenuous activities to the early morning or evening and wearing lightweight or loose-fitting clothes. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments, and anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location.

According to Storm Track 8 meteorologist Ryan Morse, dog walkers, and other pet owners should be cautious. Pavement temperatures could range from 130-155 degrees as this week heats up.

Morse said Sunday that he doesn’t expect the heat index in Indianapolis to reach higher than 105 degrees on Monday, but believes it could hit the 108 mark on Tuesday. Also on Monday, isolated storms are possible mainly north late in the day, with a slight risk of severe weather. The high temperatures are in the low to mid-90s. Heat advisories were issued for Monday across a wide swath of the United States, including Alabama, Arkansas Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, New Mexico, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas. Also, South Carolina and North Carolina were under heat advisories for Monday.