The National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings and advisories for the entire state of Michigan as forecasters warn that high temperatures Tuesday will near or exceed 100 degrees.
Several Metro Detroit communities exceeded 90 degree temperatures by early afternoon Monday, including Rochester Hills (92), Livonia (91), Warren (90) and Macomb Township (90), according to observations published by the NWS. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for all of Metro Detroit until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
An extreme heat warning has been issued for all but two counties of the Michigan’s Upper Peninsula until 10 p.m. Tuesday, where high temperatures will make heat indices, or “feels like” temperatures, rise to between 98 and 105 degrees today and Tuesday.
Experts said a heat dome, a high-pressure system that acts like a lid on a pot and traps heat over an area, is expected to expand from the Plains and Upper Midwest to the East. They also said they don’t expect this latest heat wave to be as long or oppressive as the one that hit the area ahead of the Fourth of July, when Detroit hit highs of at least 94 degrees for four consecutive days.
“This heat wave, compared to the previous one, the dew points are lower, so it’s not going to be as humid,” said Steven Freitag, a meteorologist with the NWS office in White Lake Township.
NWS officials forecast that the heat will build over the first half of this week, with highs in the 90s through Wednesday, including a possibility of some locations hitting 100 on Tuesday.
Weather forecasters said the heat combined with the relative humidity, or what’s called the heat index, can make it feel like it’s up to five degrees warmer than the actual temperature.
Detroit’s high temperature climbed into the low 90s on Monday, according to the agency, while the city’s average monthly high temperature in July is 83.7 degrees.
NWS meteorologists said Tuesday will be the hottest day of the week in Southeast Michigan and the rest of the state. They said high temperatures may rise to the upper 90s with heat indices near or above 100 degrees.
In Detroit, the high temperature is expected to reach 100 degrees on Tuesday, with possible heat indices up to 105. The hottest July 14 in Detroit on record is 104 degrees in 1936, according to NWS data.
On Monday, Highland Park city officials warned its residents to prepare for the incoming heat wave.
“We strongly advise all of our residents to prepare now,” officials said in a statement. “Please secure adequate hydration supplies, inspect your home fans and air conditioning units to ensure they are working properly, and limit your time outdoors during peak heat hours.
“We also ask that you look out for one another — please check in on your neighbors, especially seniors, families with young children, and those who may be vulnerable to extreme heat.”
The city distributed water to residents on Monday at the Highland Park Justice Center, 13233 Hamilton, from 10 a.m. to noon and from 4-6 p.m. Residents were required to bring identification to receive water.
They also said the city will open two cooling centers at the Ernest T. Ford Recreation Center, 10 Pitkin, and the Highland Park Fire Station at 25 Gerald, throughout the week. Hours of operation and more information are available on the city’s website.
Lastly, officials said they will close City Hall on Tuesday due to the heat.
Macomb County officials also reminded residents on Monday to take precautions and use available community resources to stay safe during the extreme heat.
“Extreme heat can quickly become dangerous, especially for older adults, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions,” Andrew Cox, director and Health Officer of the Macomb County Department of Health and Community Services, said in a statement. “We encourage residents to take precautions, check on family members and neighbors, protect their pets and use the resources available throughout the county to stay safe.”
The weather service has also issued warnings for other parts of the state.
Officials with the service’s Grand Rapids office have issued an extreme heat watch for Tuesday. They warn that dangerously hot conditions with heat index values around 105 degrees are possible for some parts of western Michigan.
Meanwhile, the NWS’s Gaylord office has issued a heat advisory for parts of the Lower Peninsula’s northern half through 8 p.m. Tuesday. It said the region could see high temperatures of 90 degrees to 95 degrees and heat index values ranging between 97 degrees and 104 degrees.
It has also issued an extreme heat watch that’s in effect from Tuesday afternoon through Tuesday evening. Officials warn that heat index values up to 105 degrees are possible.
Elsewhere, the NWS office in Marquette has issued an extreme heat warning that covers the central and western parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The warning is in effect through 10 p.m. Tuesday, and meteorologists forecast heat index values could reach between 98 degrees and 105 degrees.
Hot weather is expected to continue across Southeast Michigan for the rest of the week with daytime highs in the 90s, according to the weather service.
On Wednesday, high temperatures for the region are expected to range between 88 degrees in Bad Axe to 98 degrees in Adrian and Ann Arbor. Heat index values will also be pushed into the mid- to upper-90s on Wednesday, the NWS said.
In Detroit, the high is expected to fall to 97 degrees.
A slight cool down is expected on Thursday with high temps ranging from 87 degrees to 94 degrees across Southeast Michigan.
Detroit should follow suit, and the high is predicted to reach 94 degrees on Thursday. The forecast for Friday in the city calls for a high of 88 degrees under mostly sunny skies.
“This isn’t just another hot summer week,” Elizabeth Danco, a meteorologist with AccuWeather, said in a statement. “When heat and humidity combine for several days in a row, they can create dangerous conditions that affect everything from public health to the power grid. People should plan ahead, stay hydrated, and take frequent breaks if they have to be outdoors, because the heat can become dangerous much faster than many realize.”
Extended Detroit forecast
Tuesday: Hot; high 100, low 77.
Wednesday: Hot; high 97, low 72.
Thursday: Hot; high 94, low 72.
Friday: Mostly sunny; high 88, low 71.
Saturday: Mostly sunny; high 86, low 68.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, high 86.
Source: National Weather Service
cramirez@detroitnews.com
X: @CharlesERamirez
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Extreme heat warnings issued as Michigan temperatures climb toward 100
Reporting by Charles E. Ramirez and Max Reinhart, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Charles E. Ramirez and Max Reinhart, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
