100 degrees and counting as 15 states get heat advisories

Hot on the heels of the toadoes and hurricanes, a heat wave is building which could reach dangerous levels in parts of the Midwest, the Plains and the Southeast this week.

Fifteen states are under heat advisories, which means temperatures are expected to exceed 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

In Montana, however, they've had so much snow that a marathon race on July 29 has been cancelled because organisers don't think the snow will melt in time.

In these areas, the heat index, or how hot the body feels due to the combined effects of heat and humidity, will reach between 110 and 115 degrees this week.

The advisories and waings will remain in effect until at least Tuesday.

Several high-temperature records have been broken recently.

Wichita, Kansas, hit 111 degrees on Sunday.

The National Weather Service says temperatures of 111 degrees have only occurred there ten times since July 1888.

The temperature in toado-ravaged Joplin, Missouri, hit 106 degrees on Sunday and in Springfield, Missouri, it topped 102 degrees.

Both of these temperatures bested high-temperature records set in the 1980s.

Oklahoma City hit a record high of 108 degrees Thursday, the same day that Tulsa hit a record high of 104 degrees.

High pressure over the Plains is keeping the weather patte stable, allowing heat to build and suppressing thunderstorms.

Some relief is expected by mid-week as the high pressure system weakens and shifts slightly southeast.

This will allow thunderstorms to develop in the central Plains.

In Dallas temperatures are expected to top 100 degrees for the 10th consecutive day as excessive heat waings grip many central and southe states.

The National Weather Service reported Monday that heat advisories are in place from Georgia to Illinois and back down to Oklahoma. Temperatures in those places may not reach 100 degrees, but the heat index could make it feel like triple digits.

Up, up and away: 100, 101, 102, vast parts of the country are feeling the heat

Texas has seen these summers before. Dallas hit the 100-degree mark for nearly three straight weeks in 2006, and meteorologist Jesse Moore says the city isn't even technically under a heat advisory because the area is used to these temperatures.

That's not the case in Cincinnati, where an excessive heat waing accompanies a possible heat index of 104 degrees.

Still rising: 102s give way to 104 as Oklahoma City and Dallas taken the brunt of the heat

A new high: Thursday shows even hotter temperatures in parts of the country

Excessive heat is extremely hazardous to human health. According to information on the National Weather Service website, heat disorders can develop when the body heats too quickly to cool itself safely, or when a person loses too much fluid or salt by sweating or dehydration.

Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, pale and clammy skin, weak pulse, fainting and vomiting.

The agency suggests that people protect themselves from heat disorders by reducing activity during the hottest part of the day, wearing lightweight clothing and drinking plenty of water.

 

Great extremes: A boy in Dallas on Sunday and a forlo-looking dog in Montana wishing for better weather

The agency also asks that people abstain from caffeinated or alcoholic drinks.

Even meat and other proteins can increase metabolic heat production.

Meanwhile, back in freezing Montana, the race director of a 100-mile ultra-marathon foot race through the Flathead National Forest has cancelled the event due to lingering snow, saying the course is too dangerous for competitors.

Brad Lamson said that portions of the course for the Swan Crest 100 have deep snow that is concealing signs that mark trail intersections.

He said he’s convinced the snow won’t melt in time for the event scheduled for July 29.

He added that postponing the race would pose problems with shortening daylight hours and increased grizzly bear activity, greatfallstribune.com reports.

In last year's race, 44 people started but only 20 finished.