North Alabama is headed into a stretch of dangerous summer heat, with temperatures climbing into the upper 90s and heat index values reaching the triple digits.

The National Weather Service in Huntsville has issued a Heat Advisory for all of northern Alabama and southern Middle Tennessee from Wednesday through Friday.

Forecasters expect afternoon temperatures to reach the mid to upper 90s, with high humidity making it feel considerably hotter.

The prolonged heat comes as a large area of high pressure, commonly referred to as a heat dome, shifts from the Southwest into the Mid-South and Southeast.

According to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, the pattern is setting the stage for a “long-duration heat wave” across the region.

Dew points in the low to mid-70s are expected to combine with the high temperatures to produce heat index values of 105 to 110 degrees in many locations across the broader Southeast.

While much of the region will remain hot and relatively dry under the heat dome, a frontal boundary stretching from the High Plains through the Midwest and into the Mid-Atlantic could produce showers and thunderstorms, including the potential for severe weather and flash flooding in some areas.

For North Alabama, however, heat will be the primary weather concern through the end of the workweek.

The National Weather Service advises taking precautions during periods of extreme heat, particularly for those spending extended periods outdoors. Heat-related illnesses can develop quickly under high temperatures and humidity, especially during strenuous outdoor activity.

The Heat Advisory is currently expected to remain in effect through Friday.

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