Part of the viewing area is still considered Abnormally dry.  A pocket of official D1 drought (Moderate Drought) has been pained in central Illinois.

We do have opportunities for storms in this overall area of dryness.

MARGINAL RISK for severe weather is up for much of the viewing area, except areas west of a Fowler to Waynetown line, which is under SLIGHT RISK.

Highs of 86-91 with heat indices 90-96 are likely today with westerly wind turning more to the southwest.

Storms should fire.  One bout 3-6 p.m. & another 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. time frame.  Wind & hail are the risks.

Scattered showers & storms are possible before 3 p.m. tomorrow.  It appears that severe weather risk will occur south & southeast to east of the viewing area.

Highs will run 82-88.

These are the current expected time periods for "Ridge Riders" or complexes of storms that may impact part of the viewing area next week.  I also included the current severe weather parameters shaping up:

1. Tuesday Night-Wednesday AM:  1 am-6 am along & north of US 24.............MARGINAL RISK parameters

2.  Wednesday Evening-Night:  7 pm-1 am area-wide............SLIGHT to ENHANCED RISK parameters

3.  Thursday night-Friday AM:  1 am-6 am along & north of Indiana 18..............MARGINAL to SLIGHT RISK parameters

Intense heat will build northward with 90s Tuesday-Friday.  Temperatures of up to 115 will occur in Texas.

90s to 100 are possible next weekend to early the following week.

Heat indices of 105-116 are possible.

It overall looks like an intense heat wave continuing through July 25 as it continues to expand northeastward.

A little bit of heat relief should occur in early August.

However, it appears that a heat wave may build in mid-August here.

Overall rainfall for August is trending a bit below normal (unless we can get the remnants of a tropical system in here, which would change that pretty quickly).