After heating up this weekend, summer-like temperatures and heat index values will stay for a while.
All day Monday, a Heat Advisory will be in place for the River Valley and Eastern Oklahoma. An Advisory is issued when heat index values (the combination of air temperature and humidity) make the air feel close to 105° or higher.
Air temperatures tomorrow afternoon look to top out close to 100 in Fort Smith, closer to 95 in NWA. Relative humidity values should remain between 40% to 50%. This will cause the heat index values to hover between 100° and 110° area wide.
Heat Index is important to take into account as to how it affects our bodies. According to the National Weather Service, when your sweat evaporates, it cools your body temperature. When the humidity is higher, the sweat evaporates slower, making your body feel warmer in humid conditions.