High temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s are expected across a large part of Arkansas on Tuesday, which will combine with high humidity to bring the possibility of "dangerous" heat to the state, the National Weather Service said.
The heat index, which measures how the air actually feels when the humidity is taken into consideration, will range from 105 to 109 degrees across most of Arkansas. The weather service warned that the heat index will "climb to dangerous levels in many areas."
A heat advisory is in effect through 9 p.m. for all but Northwest Arkansas and part of north-central Arkansas.
"The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are possible," the weather service said in a statement. "Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors."
The heat wave is likely to continue through the rest of the week with afternoon highs in the 90s to near triple digits expected "for the next several days," the agency said.
Isolated thunderstorms, meanwhile, are possible Tuesday afternoon. Forecasters said the primary threat would be damaging winds.