116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Heat wave will bring ‘dangerously hot’ conditions to Iowa this weekend
Forecasters warn heat indexes could be 100 to 105 on Saturday and Sunday, and possibly into Monday
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This weekend will bring dangerously high temperatures and humidity to much of Iowa.
The National Weather Service on Wednesday issued an extreme heat watch, in effect from Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening for much of Iowa, as well as portions of surrounding states. It warns of “dangerously hot conditions.”
The forecast for Cedar Rapids calls for high temperatures of 97 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. Monday and Tuesday will bring little relief, with temperatures still expected to top out in the low to mid 90s.
Humidity will combine with those temperatures to push heat indexes to 100-105, or more, over the weekend. It’s possible those indexes could continue into Monday and Tuesday, although the National Weather Service reports there is lower confidence in that forecast.
Nighttime lows will offer little reprieve from the heat — low temperatures will be in the mid-70s Saturday and Sunday nights.
Heat dome forming
A heat dome occurs when a large area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere acts as a reservoir that traps heat and humidity, said Ricky Castro, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Illinois.
Moisture blown northward from the Gulf of Mexico is fueling the muggy weather, said Jacob Asherman, a Weather Prediction Center meteorologist. This influx of moisture is fairly typical during late spring and summer, he said. The Gulf, which shares borders with Mexico and the U.S., was renamed by President Donald Trump to the Gulf of America.
Water, shade, air conditioning important for fighting heat
Amid the dangerous heat, the National Weather Service advises people to:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Wear light-colored and loose-fitting clothing.
- Take frequent breaks in air conditioning or in the shade.
- Stay out of the sun. If you must be in the sun, wear sunscreen and a hat.
- Check on relatives and neighbors, especially the elderly, sick and those without air conditioning.
- Never leave kids or pets in a parked car.
- Reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening.
There are heat relief facilities available for residents in both Linn and Johnson counties, where they can find air conditioning and other resources.
In Johnson County, Iowa City has posted its cooling centers on the city website.
Linn County posts its heat relief locations, and other heat-related information, on its website: linncountyiowa.gov/707/Heat-Relief.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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