Hot.

It's finally hit the 'hot' time of year. We are expecting highs in the upper 90s this week, possibly hitting 100 a few days. It will definitely be into the triple digits with the heat index. I am thankful we have had a 'cooler' summer, with lots of rain, this year. I watched a comparison on the news last night--for the same time last year, we had 55+ days of hot weather compared to the 43 days (and counting) this year.

Yeah, I know...it's not a lot, but when you live in Arkansas during these hot summer months, you begin to appreciate what you can get.

For those who must be outside this week, drink lots of water, find some shade to rest in, and take care of yourself!

From www.weather.com :

Special Weather Statement

ARKANSAS-BAXTER-BOONE-BRADLEY-CALHOUN- CLARK-CLEBURNE-CLEVELAND- CONWAY- DALLAS-DESHA-DREW-FAULKNER-FULTON- GARLAND-GRANT-HOT SPRING- INDEPENDENCE- IZARD-JACKSON-JEFFERSON-JOHNSON- LINCOLN-LOGAN-LONOKE- MARION-MONROE- MONTGOMERY-NEWTON-OUACHITA-PERRY-PIKE- POLK-POPE- PRAIRIE-PULASKI-SALINE- SCOTT-SEARCY-SHARP-STONE-VAN BUREN- WHITE- WOODRUFF-YELL- 400 AM CDT MON AUG 6 2007

...AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF HOT AND HUMID WEATHER IS EXPECTED ACROSS MUCH OF ARKANSAS THIS UPCOMING WEEK...

HIGH PRESSURE ALOFT IS FORECAST TO PERSIST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND ARKANSAS...THROUGH MUCH OF THIS WEEK. AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE MID AND UPPER 90S...WITH A FEW 100 DEGREE READINGS POSSIBLE...EACH DAY THIS WEEK. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY LEVELS...WILL PRODUCE AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES FROM 95 TO 105 DEGREES EACH DAY. PARTS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN ARKANSAS MAY SEE HEAT INDEX VALUES EXCEED 105 DEGREES DURING SOME PARTS OF THE AFTERNOONS THIS WEEK. HEAT ADVISORIES ARE ANTICIPATED AT SOME POINT THIS WEEK FOR PORTIONS OF THE STATE.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE REMINDS EVERYONE TO TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS TO AVOID THE HEAT... ESPECIALLY IF PLANNING TO BE OUTDOORS IN THE HOT TEMPERATURES. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS AND AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO DIRECT SUNLIGHT IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES. CHILDREN...THE ELDERLY AND PETS ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE TO THE HIGH HEAT...AND PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO MINIMIZE THEIR EXPOSURE.