DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - It is no longer your grandparents' heat index that factored in temperature and humidity. Â
Today's modern science "feels like" temperatures take into account 20 separate variables. Sure, air temperature and relative humidity are still a big part of it, but there is also the time of the year, time of the day, incoming solar radiation, cloud cover, wind, corn sweat, pressure and altitude, just to name a few more. Â
Central Illinois averages up to two weeks of feels like temperatures over 100 degrees every year. And, here comes the latest round this week. Â
The peak of the heat will occur Wednesday and Thursday before thunderstorms and an increase in cloud cover begin to abate the hot air. Oppressive humidity, on the other hand, will stick around for the foreseeable future. Â
The excessive heat watch is in effect starting Tuesday for Logan, Sangamon, Christian, Montgomery and Fayette counties westward. Areas to the east are set to begin Wednesday. Â
It may be of little solace, but record high temperatures in the low 100s are not attainable in this current weather pattern. Â
Stay safe, stay weather aware and stay sweaty. Â
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