All of Arkansas is under some form of heat advisory or warning Tuesday as temperatures climb again into the 90s and couple with humidity to make it feel like the triple digits. And the sweltering conditions are likely to be the norm for at least the next week — and possibly longer.
The National Weather Service said most of the state can expect the heat index, which measures how the air feels when humidity is factored in, to top 105 by Tuesday afternoon.
"It's not going to feel pleasant outside at all," said John Lewis, senior forecaster with the weather service in North Little Rock.
Three counties in western Arkansas — Crawford, Franklin and Sebastian — were set to be under an excessive heat warning from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for even hotter conditions. That warning noted the air temperature itself will reach about 100 and the heat index could go as high as 112.
"This combination of heat and humidity can lead to dangerous heat stress conditions," the agency's warning said, urging people to stay hydrated, keep in air conditioning and out of the sun and to check on relatives, neighbors and pets.
In Little Rock, a high of 98 and a heat index of 110 were forecast, though Lewis said the temperature might end up a couple degrees cooler than that. The high in Little Rock has stalled in recent days in the mid-90s, which Lewis said was due to moisture in the ground from rains in May and June.
It would be even hotter across much of the state if not for that earlier rain.
"If there's a saving grace at all as far as the temperature goes, with all rain we have some moisture in ground and it's somewhat green," he said. "That's preventing us from getting into triple digits as far as the temperature."
The heat wave was expected to continue for some time, however, with highs each day for the next week expected to reach the mid- to upper 90s for most of Arkansas.
Lewis said a ridge of high pressure is to blame and it looks to be stalled in place for at least the next seven to 10 days. There's a possibility it could shift west after that.
"If that happens, maybe we'll get a little relief," Lewis said. "Worst-case scenario, it stays right where it is and we continue with this for much of the remainder of July."