Dangerous heat and humidity are expected across Arkansas through Tuesday, forecasters said Monday.
An extreme heat warning is in place across much of Central, northeast and southeast Arkansas through Tuesday evening, the National Weather Service said. These portions of the state could experience “dangerous temperatures and oppressive heat index values,” according to the weather service.
Affected areas include Little Rock, Russellville, Batesville, Jonesboro, Pine Bluff and Monticello.
High temperatures in the warning area will range from the low 90s to values just above 100, with heat index values between 105 and 115 degrees, the weather service said.
As of 5:30 p.m. Monday, temperatures across Arkansas reached triple digits. The National Weather Service’s hourly forecast at 5 p.m. Monday showed temperatures of 100 degrees or higher in numerous cities.
Conway, for instance, experienced 100-degree heat and a heat index value of 122. Temperatures reached as high as 102 degrees in Texarkana with a heat index value of 117. Heat indexes were higher than 100 degrees across the board.
The humidity increasing heat index values is caused by a “stout, high-pressure ridge of air,” said Carter Bentley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in North Little Rock.
“The term heat dome gets thrown around in these conditions,” Bentley said. “That hotter air gets stacked there, and it does not want to move around.”
The high temperature for Little Rock on Monday was expected to be 99 degrees, with a potential heat index value of 110 degrees. Other areas of northern Pulaski County could see heat index values of 115 degrees, Bentley said.
The remainder of the state is under a heat advisory Monday and Tuesday, with temperatures in the 90s and heat index values that could impact outdoor activities, the weather service said.
Heat safety practices are especially important during extreme heat conditions, the weather service said. In addition to high heat index values during the day, nighttime temperatures will stay in the 80s, making it more difficult for people to cool down, Bentley said.
The forecaster advised Arkansans to complete any outdoor activities in the early morning or evening if possible and emphasized the importance of staying hydrated.
“Hydration is not just a one-day process,” he said. “Continually drinking water for weeks at a time during this time of year is important.”
If outdoor activities must be completed during the day, people should take breaks and find shaded places to cool off, Bentley said.
Some cities in Arkansas open cooling centers during extreme heat conditions to help those in need of a place to take a break from the heat.
Little Rock opened multiple centers for anyone seeking respite from the high temperatures. These cooling centers are located at the Dunbar Community Center on 16th Street, Southwest Community Center on Baseline Road and West Central Community Center on Colonel Glenn Road. The hours for these centers are 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
