Weather Alert Day: Dangerous heat wave arrives this weekend

SATURDAY A.M. UPDATE: An extreme heat watch has been issued for areas along and south of I-70, from Sunday afternoon through Wednesday evening. The most intense of this heat, where the criteria of this watch, that being heat index values up to 108 degrees, are still expected to be Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

An ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Day has been issued from Sunday through Tuesday for a dangerous heat wave that will drive the heat index into the triple digits for several days.

High pressure over the Desert Southwest will expand into the Midwest this weekend, pushing rain chances north of Mid-Missouri. Temperatures and humidity will also increase as winds begin to blow from the southwest.

Skies may also appear hazy this weekend due to wildfire smoke streaming in from the west. This smoke is expected to remain above the surface with little impact to local air quality.

The heat index will soar to between 100 and 105 degrees each day from Sunday through Tuesday, coupled with mostly sunny skies. Rain chances will be low this weekend, with a few storms possibly brushing northern Missouri Sunday and Monday. Our area remains hot and humid.

Wildfire smoke will follow the upper-level pattern from west to east over the next several days, allowing smoke to cover our skies this weekend. Most of the smoke remains in the upper atmosphere, leading to hazy skies and moderate impacts to surface air quality.

Take care during this heat wave by reducing strenuous outdoor activities, staying in the AC as much as possible, and drinking lots of water. Get your plans done in the early morning or late evening, and keep kids and pets off hot surfaces.