If you’re feeling like you’re walking around in a thick, hot, humid, airless mass – you’re not wrong.

The high heat we’re experiencing right now is considered a heat wave by the National Weather Service based on their definition which “is a period of abnormally hot weather generally lasting more than two days.” Well, we’re there.

The normal high temperature for our region is roughly 92. Since July 1, we’ve only hit 92 once on July 2. July 5 was 95.

With the humidity range in the 60-70 percentile, the heat index has been in the Heat visory range for our western counties. The NWS issues a Heat visory Alert when the heat index (feels like temperature) is expected to be a minimum of 108.

Back to the oven. According to the American Meteorological Society, a heat dome is when high pressure prevents the warm air from rising. When air can’t move, temperatures rise and thus, you feel like you’re living in a hot oven.

Two areas of high pressure: one situated over Arkansas and Missouri and one in the Gulf of Mexico near Tampa, are to blame for the stifling heat settling over our region.

How long will this last? Sunday will likely be closer to normal temperatures and the NWS isn’t expected to issue another Heat visory.