Feelin' hot, hot, hot?
Well, it's not over yet¾the temperature is expected to peak today but stay hot through the weekend.
The National Weather Service is predicting that the temperature will reach 97 degrees in Hailey today, "cooling" to a high of 94 by Saturday, with afternoon thunderstorms, and 91 by Sunday. High temperatures are forecast to be in the low 90s through next week.
A high of 94 degrees is predicted for Ketchum today. That's hot, but still short of the all-time record of 98 degrees at the Ketchum Ranger Station set on July 13, 2002.
The high temperature in Ketchum is predicted to be 89 on Saturday and 88 on Sunday. Highs are predicted to stay in the high 80s through next week.
Average high temperature at the Ketchum Ranger Station for this time of the year is 79 degrees. Temperatures typically rise through late July and early August, when average highs are 82 or 83 degrees.
High temperature in Boise today is predicted to be 106 degrees.
Record high temperature in Idaho is 118 degrees, set in Orofino on July 28, 1934.
AAA Idaho is advising people to be careful about leaving children or animals in parked cars during the current heat wave.
"Unattended small children and pets are especially defenseless against the heat that can build up in a vehicle whose windows are rolled up," stated AAA Idaho spokesperson Dave Carlson in a press release. "Temperatures can turn deadly dangerous in just a matter of minutes, putting all occupants at risk of heat stroke."
Due to the current hot and dry weather, local wildfire hazard is now rated "very high."
"It jumped from 'moderate' real fast," a spokesperson for the Sawtooth National Recreation Area said.
