National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

Tragically, heat related deaths have occurred from this extended period of high heat. PLEASE take protective action..heat related sickness and death is preventable. Protect yourself, family and friends. Check in on the elderly. Check in with your neighbors. Keep children out of the heat and in a cool shelter.

Excessive Heat Warnings remain in effect until 7 pm tonight for Clayton county in northeast Iowa and Grant county in southwest Wisconsin.

• Highs: 90 to 95
• Heat indices, which measure the combined effect of temperature and humidity on the body (e.g., what your body 'feels'): near 100 degrees in the afternoon and evening

The threat for heat related illnesses, such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion, will persist through today.

Take action to protect yourself, family, and friends.  Prolonged periods of high heat and humidity can be deadly. Sadly, between 2000 and 2009, an average of 162 people died each year across the country as a result of a heat-related illness.

• Campers should be prepared for the dangers of the heat. Have a cool shelter for refuge from the hottest parts of the day.  Be careful with campfires - the area is very dry.
• Stay hydrated with water and save strenuous activities for the early parts of the day.
• The young and the elderly will be especially susceptible to the heat. Make sure they stay cool in air conditioned areas.
• Do not leave pets and children in automobiles (even with the windows down).  Even a few minutes could become deadly!  Beat the heat, check the back seat!

R denotes new record

New Records Set Thus Far:

For La Crosse, WI...

• July 6th: high temperature of 103 (previous record 100 set in 1989)
• July 5th: Warmest low record of 79 (previous record 77 set in 1900)
• July 4th: high temperature of 103 (previous record 100 set in 1911)
• July 4th: warmest low temperature of 81 (previous record 80 last set in 1999)
• All-time warmest low temperature of 81 on July 4th tied the previous record (July 13, 1995)
• July 4th: average temperature of 92 (previous record 88 set in 1999).  Note that this is also the 3rd warmest average temperature on record.

For Rochester, MN...

• July 4th: warmest low temperature of 75 (previous record 74 last set in 1999)

How Often Do 100 Degree Days Occur?

On July 4th and 6th, 2012, the temperature rose to 103 degrees. The last time La Crosse reached 103 degrees or higher was back on July 14, 1995.

*** Updated to include July 6, 2012

Impacts on Mississippi River Temperatures

As of the morning of July 6th, the recent heat wave has helped to bring water temperatures along the Mississippi River up to around 80 degrees, between Lake City, MN and Lynxville, WI.