Heat Index May Hit As High As 115 Degrees By This Afternoon

If you've opened your front door, you know it's broiling outside. What you may not know is that this is only the beginning of the heat.

The National Weather Service is again advising area residents to beware the heat wave that's roasting the area. The heat index - the combination of heat and humidity that makes mere high temperatures excruciating -is projected to reach as high as 115 degrees by this afternoon.

So if you can, stay inside in an air-conditioned environment. There are plenty of local places to slip into to escape the heat, like the , open until 7 p.m., or the , open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday. Find a cozy chair at  or  and read through the heat or sit in the comfort of your air-conditioned car and cool off with some cantaloupe Italian ice from .

The miserably hot temperatures are rolling in from a heat wave that singed the midwest earlier this week. The scorching temps are expected to stay in the area through Saturday, where they won't level off by much: early weekend heat index temperatures are forecast to be in the 110 degree range.

Remember, infants, the sick, the disabled, and the elderly suffer the most in this kind of hot environment. Those who are most vulnerable are urged by authorities to stay in air-conditioning and avoid going out, especially during the hottest afternoon parts of the day.

Don't forget the pets, too. Dogs should stay indoors, but if they are left outside, make sure they have plenty of fresh, cool water and a shaded area away from the sun.