Govind Tekale
Indiana residents should prepare for the first significant heat wave of 2025 as temperatures soar into the 90s starting this Saturday, with dangerous heat conditions expected to persist through at least Tuesday.
The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories across central Indiana beginning Saturday afternoon and lasting until Tuesday evening. This marks the first heat alerts of 2025 for the state, signaling a dramatic shift from the recent stormy weather pattern.
“We’ve issued First Alert Weather Days for Sunday through Tuesday because of the possibility of the heat and humidity combining to create a potentially dangerous level of heat,” reports meteorologist Caleb Saylor from Fort Wayne.
Heat index values — what the temperature actually feels like when humidity is factored in — are expected to climb above 100 degrees in many areas. Overnight temperatures will provide little relief, dropping only to the mid-70s.
The culprit behind this sweltering forecast is a large high-pressure ridge building across the eastern two-thirds of the country, often called a “heat dome.” This weather system acts like a lid, trapping warm air underneath while allowing intense solar radiation to heat the surface, especially potent as it coincides with the summer solstice.
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This abrupt temperature change follows severe thunderstorms that moved through central Indiana on June 18, which brought widespread wind damage, downed trees, power outages, and even spawned two brief tornadoes west and northwest of Lafayette.
Health officials warn that extreme heat is the top weather-related killer in the United States. The most vulnerable include the elderly, children, outdoor workers, and those with chronic health conditions.
To stay safe during the heat wave, experts recommend:
- Drinking plenty of fluids
- Staying in air-conditioned spaces when possible
- Limiting strenuous activities to early morning or evening hours
- Wearing lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing
- Checking on relatives and neighbors, especially those most vulnerable
- Never leaving children or pets in vehicles, even briefly
The timing of the heat’s arrival leaves little doubt — after a final day of temperatures in the 80s on Friday, the mercury will climb to around 90 degrees on Saturday. Sunday through Tuesday will see highs in the mid-90s with those dangerous triple-digit heat indices.
“At that level of heat, it starts to impact our daily lives as well as the health for some,” Saylor noted.
Indianapolis can expect similar conditions, with Saturday reaching the lower 90s and Sunday pushing into the mid-90s with triple-digit heat indices.
Public health officials advise residents to know the warning signs of heat-related illnesses, which include muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea, and confusion. Heat stroke is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention.
While the heat advisory is currently set through Tuesday, forecasters are watching Wednesday as another potential First Alert Weather Day, suggesting this early summer heat wave could extend well into next week.
