In Evansville, be ready to 'sweat as soon as you walk out the door'

EVANSVILLE – The National Weather Service didn't dispute the description: it's like diving into a bowl of soup.

The Evansville-area will see both brutal temperatures and high humidity Monday and Tuesday, continuing a trend that began late in the weekend. Keith Cooley, with the NWS' Paducah, Kentucky office, said heat indexes will flirt with 105 degrees on Monday, making it dangerous to stay outside for long stretches.

"You sweat as soon as you walk out the door," he said.

Tuesday will be just as bad. The weather service predicts a high of around 97 degrees with plenty of moisture in the air to make things even worse.

Anyone doing yard work – or cleaning up after last week's rash of tornados – should take breaks, wear loose-fitting clothing and drink plenty of water, Cooley said. And while it may sound nice on a hot day, it's not a great idea to hydrate with a cold beer. It will have the opposite effect, he said.

If the forecast pans out, it will be the hottest stretch of the summer so far.

Luckily, it looks like the heat won't linger for long. NWS expects a slight dip Wednesday, with an even sharper drop by Thursday, when temperatures will land in the temperate mid-80s.