Thursday is Iowa Heat Awareness Day, and this year, it falls at a time that summer-like heat and humidity settle into the region. Warning Coordination Meteorologist Chad Hahn with the National Weather Service reminds everyone to never leave kids or pets in cars alone during hot, sunny days. Hahn says the National Weather Service issues two types of advisories related to heat.

“The heat advisory is when there’s a heat index that’s expected to reach 105 degrees or the actual air temperature expected to reach 100 degrees,” he says. “We typically would issue that a day or two in advance.”

“When we get a heat warning, that’s when the heat index is expected to reach 110 degrees, and then the overnight does not fall below 75 degrees, so it’s really one of those muggy mornings as well, and that is expected to last for two days.”

Stay tuned to 92.1 KRLS for updates relating to heat advisories or warnings, and the latest Weatherology forecasts. Daytime high temperatures this week are expected to climb into the upper 80s and low 90s, and with dew points approaching the mid-60s, heat index values may become uncomfortable for many during the afternoon hours.