CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Dangerous heat continues this afternoon.

Your first warning: extreme heat

The heat index will be the biggest concern, with dew points in the 70s to near 80s Celsius, with many places feeling like 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Take precautions to prevent heat-related illness during this extreme heat. If possible, avoid prolonged periods of time outdoors, especially strenuous activities such as work or exercise. Steps you can take to keep yourself safe include drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated and avoiding caffeinated or alcoholic beverages. Wear light-colored, lightweight, and loose-fitting clothing to help your body’s temperature regulation system function properly. Also, take frequent breaks from the heat in an air-conditioned space.

Don’t forget small children, the elderly, or pets, as they can sometimes feel the effects of heat more acutely. Check with neighbors to see how they are coping with the heat, and limit children’s outdoor playtime. Also limit the time pets spend outside, and make sure they always have access to water. Be sure to check the backseat of your car before getting out; hot car deaths are completely preventable by not leaving people or pets in the car without the air conditioning on.

Know and recognize the symptoms of heat-related illness so you can keep yourself safe:

Tuesday will likely see similarly warm conditions, although heat index values ​​could fall into a slightly cooler range of 100 to 110 degrees. This difference is subtle, however, and heat-related precautions are still strongly advised for another day.

Your first warning: chance of storms tonight

Tonight, a chance of storms is possible in the northern parts of the TV9 viewing area, with a slight risk of severe weather. Damaging winds are the biggest threat, with a smaller chance of hail. Storms are most likely from midnight to 7:00 Tuesday. Extra heat and storm risks will continue into Tuesday, before a cooling trend brings more pleasant conditions later in the week.

More comfortable conditions towards the end of the week into early next week

Fortunately, we’ll get a break from this late summer heat wave behind this cold front, with more pleasant air arriving later Friday into the weekend. Temperatures will be much closer to normal for late August through early September, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. At night, lows will drop into the upper 50s to low 60s, making for a chilly start to the day.

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