Temperatures are expecting to be over 100 degrees through the weekend with no relief from the heat in the near future.

“There is a heat advisory for your area, and it will continue through the weekend,” National Weather Service meteorologist David Cox said. “Some of these heat index values will be 105 to 110.”

“However, heat is expected to increase and the peak heating is expected to be Saturday through Monday and into Tuesday,” he said. “Highs will be approaching or just above 100 degrees the next few days.”

With the Mississippi River at record levels during the month of July there has been little rain falling on the region.

“There a slight chance of rain the next few days, however, that will stay to the east of Vicksburg,” Cox said. “There’s an upper level system over the Eastern United States that will gradually lift to the northeast and a strong high pressure will build to the west of that.”

“There could be some isolated storms, but really heat is going to be the main story,” he said. “We’ve seen below average rainfall, and the Vicksburg area is 4 inches below normal and that looks to continue.”

“There’s some record potential values possible this weekend,” he said. “With the strong high pressure and the heat above the ground that’s supportive of these temperatures this is potentially some of the highest we’ve seen and being so dry with little rain seen in the last month that’s also exasperating the situation.”

Currently Warren County and Vicksburg are not under a burn ban, but that likely could change in the coming days.

“We rely on our fire departments to give us guidance on that, and our county fire coordinator had sent out something asking people to be very careful about burning and especially with the winds we’ve had,” Board of Supervisors president Bill Lauderdale said. “If we don’t get any rain we may be doing a burn ban, but as of now we have not done one, but that could come at any time.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to remind people that’s it’s not a good time to have a fire,” he said.

With high heat values, extra precautions should be taken to avoid a heat injury.

“As we go into this weekend, some temperatures could rise above 100 degrees, the highs are 103 Monday and 102 for Sunday, heat indices for Sunday will be 110 to 115,” Cox said.  “Take all precautions you can and if you have to be outside be sure to stay hydrated and drink plenty of fluids, heat stroke is very possible with these high temperatures.”

“Prior to Aug. 4, there were only 3 days with temperatures over 100 degrees,” he said.

“Be sure to check on elderly people and pets and be careful getting in and out of vehicles, not to leave anyone or anything behind, Cox said. “Temperatures can climb very quickly inside a closed vehicle.”