WEATHER ALERT DAY: Heat index reaches the triple digits into Friday

The ABC17 Stormtrack Weather Team has issued a Weather Alert Day ahead of dangerously hot temperatures lasting through Friday afternoon. The National Weather Service has issued a Heat Advisory through 9 PM on Friday. The main threat will continue to be heat indices between 103-105.

Setup

A high-pressure system is currently parked across the Midwest continues to keep light south winds across the region. These warm winds carry more moisture and higher temperatures leading to a dangerous level of heat returning to the area. This setup, paired with little cloud cover during the upcoming days allows for the earth's surface to absorb more heat leading to dangerous temperatures during the afternoon hours.

Timing

Temperatures will reach into the lower '90s by late afternoon, leading to a rise in the heat index to 100-105. The most dangerous time to be outside is between noon and 6 p.m. Try to limit exposure outdoors during this time frame. We begin to see temperatures ease back into the lower 90s by the weekend with heat indices remaining in the upper 90s.

Who is affected and when?

All Central Missouri counties are involved in this round of dangerous heat. Try to limit time spent outdoors and in direct sunlight, drink plenty of water throughout the day, and avoid wearing heavy clothing. Make sure to check up on neighbors and family around to make sure they are doing ok.

A shot at relief

A disturbance brought showers and thunderstorms to parts of Mid-Missouri Thursday afternoon, but the pattern looks drier on Friday. We likely won't see much rain until at least Sunday night as a cold front approaches the area from the north. That hangs around the area for the first half of the week, bringing temperatures back down into the upper 80s.