Tracking prolonged heat this week

TODAY: Monday is sunny and hot, much like on Sunday. As a heat dome strengthens overhead, Monday should be a degree or two warmer, with highs in the upper 90s. Dew points should remain in the 60s today, leaving heat index values near 100 degrees.

TONIGHT: Temperatures remain warm overnight, in the mid-70s, except in areas that are low-lying and shielded by the wind. In these spots, some relief may come with lows falling back into the 60s.

EXTENDED: The heat dome sticks around through the week, keeping us hot through next week and potentially into next weekend. A heat advisory is in place across all of mid-Missouri, as heat indexes will reach near or above 100 degrees each day through Friday. No ABC17 Stormtrack Weather Alert Days are in place as of now, because we do not currently expect to reach "extreme" heat indexes of 105-110; however, heat does have a cumulative effect. After 4 days of heat, you'll want to take extra care to check in on friends, family, and pets that are exposed to this heat. Sunshine and highs in the upper 90s are forecast through Friday, with only a slight increase in clouds Friday through Sunday. Lows will likely remain in the 70s for most locations each night, with temperatures slowly increasing each night. Low rain chances look to loom next weekend, but for now, the chance is too low to include in the forecast, and it's most likely that we will remain dry. It all depends on the strength of the heat dome, which is the greatest variable for the end of the forecast.