Very hot start to mostly dry week

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - Excessive heat returns today with temperatures topping off in the mid 90s. Today will be a bit more humid, and even more sunny, so find shady and cool spaces when possible. 

We'll need some rain to help bring these temperatures down, and we also need some to improve our worsening drought. The most recent update on the drought monitor showed an increase to 30% of the region under a moderate drought, and 5% under a severe drought, with the rest of the region considered abnormally dry. 

Our next chance for rain returns at the end of the work week. While it will most likely bring less than a half inch of rain for most, it will also bring a slight cooldown heading into the weekend.